Electric shock is a sudden painful feeling that you get when electricity flows through your body. It can also be defined as the physiological reaction characterised by pain and muscular spasm, to the passage of an electric current through the body. It can affect the respiratory system and heart rhythm. It occurs upon contact of a (human) body part with any source of electricity that causes a sufficient current through the skin, muscles, or hair. The most important thing to note is that
`There is contact between your body and the Electrical current' and that Electric shock is a PAINFUL experience
What causes Electric Shock?
You can never be electrocuted unless your body gets into CONTACT with source of Electricity or when Electricity is made to flow through your body tissues. Here are a few cases that may lead to one being Electrocuted;
- Faulty appliances - Faulty appliances not only exposes you to Electric shock but can cause fire that lead to you getting serious burns and in severe cases DEATH.
- Poor Electrical Installations - This comes about as a result of engaging the services of quacks and `Jua Kali people'. There are set rules, regulations and Standards to guide in installation of whatever kind to ensure the safety of the end user. Once these rules and standards are violated you are susceptible to Electric shock and the safety of you and your family is not guaranteed at all.
- Downed Power line - Sometimes the weather and many other factors is so rough on the infrastructure put up by the Electrical Power Supply authorities. Its not strange to find an Electric pole and supply power lines lying dangerously low along the road. Some people are actually dumb enough that they are tempted to touch the dangling wire. This exposes them and you to severe electrocution.
- Lightning Strike - Lightning strikes are as lethal as they sound or look. Lightning strikes can produce severe injuries, and have a mortality rate of between 10% and 30%, with up to 80% of survivors sustaining long-term injuries.These severe injuries are not usually caused by thermal burns, since the current is too brief to greatly heat up tissues instead, nerves and muscles may be directly damaged by the high voltage producing holes in their cell membranes, a process called Electropolation.
How to Prevent Electrical Shock?
1. Never mix water and electricity. - Always keep electrical appliances away from water and moisture. Whether it’s on or off, if a plugged-in appliance falls – or is accidentally dropped – into water, do not attempt to retrieve or unplug it. Go immediately to your home’s panel board and shut off power to the corresponding circuit. Once that’s done, the appliance can be safely unplugged and removed from the water. Once the device has dried thoroughly, have an electrician evaluate whether or not it’s fit for continued use.
2. Pay attention to what your appliances are telling you. - When an appliance repeatedly trips a circuit breaker, blows a fuse, or gives you shocks, it’s not just a coincidence – these are signs that something is wrong. Prevent further – and possibly more dangerous – malfunctions from occurring by immediately unplugging the appliance and discontinuing use until a professional electrician can inspect it, make repairs, and ultimately declare the appliance safe. As an additional caution, ALWAYS read the instructions before using any of your appliances.
3. Install Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI). - In new construction homes, GFCI respectables are a requirement anywhere that electrical outlets and water will be in close proximity to one another. GFCIs detect current leakages (or ground faults) in electrical circuits – such as would occur when a powered device made contact with water. The GFCI then shuts off power to that receptacle almost instantaneously, preventing electrical shock, burns, and electrocution. If you live in an older home that didn't come standard with GFCIs, installing them in place of traditional outlets in your bathroom, kitchen, and garage is an easy way to prevent severe electrical injuries – and at very little cost.
4. Make sure you’re using the right size circuit breakers and fuses. - If fuses and circuit breakers are not the right size and wattage rating to match the specifications of their circuits, they’re going to fail right when you most need them to perform. Read packages carefully when shopping for replacements. If you’re not sure which size to buy, have an electrician take a look at your panel box and label it with the circuit breaker or fuse size needed (for easy future reference). And as long as you’re making a trip to the hardware store, stock up with a few extra – you’ll be happy to have them on hand when the next need arises.
5. Protect kids with outlet covers. - Outlet covers prevent babies and small children from sticking their fingers and other objects into unoccupied receptacles and socket outlets, protecting them against shock and electrocution. You can either use the plug-in type, or opt for special child safety wall plates, which feature built-in, retractable covers that automatically snap back into place when outlets aren’t in use
6.Avoid cube taps, Extensions and Outlet-stretching devices. - Cubes taps – those little boxes that allow you to plug several appliances into a single outlet – may seem like a major convenience, but they can actually put you on the fast track to circuit overload, overheated wiring, and even fire. If you absolutely must use one, do the math before plugging in. Know the maximum power demand that the cube-tapped receptacle can handle, and be certain that the collective pull (power requirement) of the devices you’re plugging into it doesn’t exceed that rating.
7.Replace missing or broken wall plates. They’re not just there for the looks – wall plates also protect your fingers from making contact with the electrical wiring behind them. Broken wall plates, or the absence of them altogether, can be especially dangerous in the dark – when trying to locate a switch by touch, you may end up being shocked or electrocuted if you miss the mark and end up hitting live wires instead.
8.Keep electrically powered yard-care tools dry. - Whether it’s raining, just finished raining, or you've recently run the sprinklers, never attempt yard work with electrically powered tools in wet conditions. Protect yourself from shock and electrocution by keeping your electric hedge trimmer, weed whacker, and lawnmower safely unplugged and stowed away until precipitation has stopped, grass and foliage is dry, and puddles can be easily avoided. Keep your tools in a COOL AND DRY place.
9.Match the light bulb’s wattage rating to the lamp. - Whenever choosing light bulbs to use with a lamp, be sure to consult that lamp’s maximum wattage specifications (they’re often printed right around the light bulb socket). Always opt for a light bulb with wattage that’s equal to or less than the maximum wattage listed on the lamp – too strong a bulb can lead to overloaded lamp wiring, as well as fire.
10. Be kind to you cords. - Take care to treat power cords gently – never nail or tightly tack them down, and regularly check to make sure that they’re not pinched between or underneath furniture. Excessive pressure on power cables can damage insulation (exposing the conductor), or compress the conducting wire, which can lead to overheating and put you at risk for an electrical fire.
What do you do in case of an Electric Shock?
In case the preventive measures fail and one gets electrocuted, here are a steps to undertake to save them from further injuries or death. Knowing what to do in case it happens could save a life:-
Do not endanger yourself. - If the victim is still in contact with the electrical current, you must be careful to avoid being shocked yourself. You cannot help if you become a victim, too. Do not touch the victim as he current can pass through you also. Do not touch the source of electricity.
Break the current. - Before you can do anything else, you must get the victim free from the current. There are two ways to do this; Shut off the current at the power box or turn off the current at the circuit breaker or fuse box. If no shut off is immediately available, use a non-conducting item to move the victim, such as a wooden broomstick, blanket, or rope. If they are holding onto a wire or other conductor, attempt to knock their hand(s) free with a stick or dry towel.
Call for Emergency Assistance. - Make certain to state that the victim is suffering from electric shock; tell the operator to request that any responding police have an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator ) available. Also tell the operator if you have not been able to remove (disable) the source of electricity.
Here are the numbers you can call incase of an Emergency:
Police -122, 0202400000,
Ambulance /Fire Services- 999,
Red cross - 1199, 0700395395, 0738395395
If the victim is unconscious, check to see if they are breathing and have a pulse. Electric shocks may knock the person unconscious, halt their breathing, and stop the heart.
If the victim is not breathing, begin rescue breathing.
If it is needed, begin CPR
Do not attempt to move the victim unless they are in further danger. Other injuries may have occurred that you are unaware of, this is to prevent causing further injury incase of burns and other injuries. Its advisable that you wait for Medical Professionals. Cover the victim in a blanket and stay with them until help arrives.
The only sure way to be safe is to involve the services of a professional in all Building services installation from conception to commissioning of such installations. As Electrical and Mechanical Building Services Engineers in Kenya, We not only assure you of quality designs and installation but SAFETY.
