Electric shock

Archana shetty
Lecturer
Alvas college of Physiotherapy, moodbidri

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Contents
Defination
Causes
Types of shock
Effects of electric shock
Treatment of electric shock
 Safety precautions
Steps to minimise electric shock
 Reference

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Defination
• Shock is a painful stimulation of sensory nerves caused by a sudden
flow, cessation of variation in the current passing through the body.

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Causes of electric shock

• Poorly designed or badly service electro medical apparatus.

• Mishandling of equipments
• Poor insulation of equipment and connecting leads/ wires
• Poor communication between Physiotherapist and patient
• Poor safety measures related to the equipment selection, inspection
and maintenance, clinical use of modality ,environmental safety of
electrotherapy department.

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Types of shock

1. Minor shock
2. Major shock

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Effects of electric shock
1. following minor shock:frightened, distressed but there is no loss of
consciousness
2. More severe shock: fall in blood pressure and loss of consciousness
sometimes
3. Extreme cases
• cessation of respiration
• cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation resulting from the electrical
stimulation to heart
• absence of carotid pulse
• fully dilated pupils
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Treatment of electric shock

• First step: disconnect the victim from the source of electric shock
supply and current should be switch off at once.
• Following a minor shock, re assurance allowed to rest.
• Water may be given to drink but hot drinks should be avoided as they
may cause vasodilation
• Tight clothing should be loosened and plenty of air allowed
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation maybe given
• Patient must be shifted to the nearest hospital after first aid

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Safety precautions with electric currents

• Electrical hazards may develop with electro therapeutics stimulators or

may occur when these devices are not used in a safe manner.

• Stimulators can be hazardous to both patient and physiotherapist

“first day not to harm the patient is a central motto of every therapy”

• Direct currents or unify currents can cause electrochemical damage

often called a chemical burns

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• currents at varying frequencies that will stimulate nerve or muscle
can cause damage or more seriously the heart muscle thus stopping
the circulation
• currents of sufficient amplitude can cause heating in the tissues leads
to the heat burn.
• Damage due to the therapeutic use of electricity is in fact, extremely
rare and most damage that does occur is due to the main current and
its similar kind that takes place in the home with ordinary domestic
equipments

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1. Macro shock in which current passes through the skin. eg: mains
current
2. Micro shock is small current which are applied directly to the heart
as an external pacemaker, this situation quite small current increase
can be fatal.

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Steps to minimise electric shock hazards
• all equipment should be checked before use
• Rule out contraindications, precautions to the specific electro
therapeutic application considered.
• Do not use Electricals simulator within 3 meters range of shortwave
diathermy and microwave diathermy units because it interferes with
the functioning of this stimulator
• always use a three pin plug where safe ground is fixed
• never use ‘damaged’ plug/ chords and extension cords
• use only the power switch to turn the power on and off

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• never disconnect a machine from the wall power outlet with the
power turned on
• always explain the treatment procedure to the patient, describe what
sensations the patient is to expect during therapy as well as those
sensation that are not desired.
• All types of electrotherapeutic equipment’s should be periodically
tested and preventive maintenance by biomedical engineer

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• Physiotherapist dept floor should be dry and moist free. Wooden
couches and rubber sheets are recommended
• Instruments/devices should meet the standards, and approved by a
nationally recognized testing laboratory, leaking currents less than 50-
100  in orders to recieve approval.

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References
• Low J, Reed Ann: Electrotherapy explained, principles and practice
• Essentials of electrotherpy, purushotam chippala

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 Electrical Burns

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PHYSIOTHERAPY
MANAGEMENT
AIMS OF PHYSIOTHERAPY

1. Client and patient education

2. Decrease pain
3. Prevent edema and decrease edema
4. Prevent contracture and deformity
5. Positioning
6. Scar mobilization
7. Mobilize the patient
8. Return to ADL
STAGES OF INTERVENTION
Stages of
intervention

Sub acute
Acute stage Chronic stage
stage

1. Positioning 1. Obtain full

1. Scar
2. Splinting ROM
management
3. Reduce pain 2. Obtain full
2. Mobilization of
4. Reduce swelling strength
patient
5. Prevent 3. Return to ADL
3. Improves ROM
contracture activity
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 Thankyou

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