Electrocution always results in death, whereas people can survive if they get an electric shock. Due to electric shock, some injuries result from falls because electricity can beat a person unconscious or even throw them several feet away through the air. They might struggle for the rest of their lives because of the burn scars, chronic pain, severe headaches, memory loss, paralyzed limbs, and various types of brain damage.
Electrocutions don’t happen often, and they are rare compared to electric shocks as the electric force that it needs to kill a person increases to what most electronic devices and wiring can deliver. But, serious electric shock injuries happen quite frequently. There are damaged wires, poor quality construction, and poorly constructed power tools that come under the most common causes of electric shocks and are the main reasons for getting people hospitalized and disabled.
The main difference between them is that Electrocution causes a life-death, whereas an injury due to electric shock can be life-threatening. However, a person happens to survive in that.
Although both the injuries are severe and life-threatening, they carry different medical and legal consequences.
What are the main causes of Electrocution?
- Accidentally coming in contact with the exposed electrical sources like open wires.
- Coincidental contact with a downed power line
- It was accidentally touching a power line or electrical arc flash.
Compared to Electrocution, an injury caused due to an electric shock involves electric harm and never results in death. It does not mean that an electric shock is a small thing. Victims often suffer from electrical shock and very serious, dangerous, and life-threatening injuries.
The common injuries resulting from an electric shock are :
- Severe Burns
- Heart muscle damage
- Cardiac Arrest
- Memory loss
- Brain and other nerve damage.
- Loss of kidney function
- Spine Injury
- Hearing loss
- Seizures, etc.
How can you get treated after getting an electric shock?
If you or someone you know has been affected by an electric shock or Electrocution, then you need immediate treatment, but you should also visit a doctor at the earliest. Electric shock from an outlet can be harmful and is hard to catch without a proper medical test.
Treatment of electric shock is a must, and immediate response should be there if a person has been electrically shocked to minimize the effects. If you don’t take immediate action, the shock might have a dangerous impact on the person’s life.
What is the treatment of electric shock?
These are the steps that you can follow if you are suffering from an electric shock :
- Push yourself away from the electric source and let it go as soon as possible.
- If possible, call 911 or any local emergency services. In case you can’t, call someone for help from your surroundings.
- There is no need to move your body unless it is to move away from the electric source.
Steps for treatment of electric shock, if it is someone else who has been shocked :
If it’s not you and someone else has been electrically shocked, several things need to be kept in mind.
- Don’t touch or even contact the person who has been electrically shocked if they are still in interaction with the source of electricity.
- Don’t move the person who has been shocked unless there are no chances of further shock.
- Switch off the flow of electricity if it’s possible. If you cannot switch off the electricity, then using a non-conducting object, you can shift the source of electricity from the person to another place. You can also use rubber or anything made of wood to move the person away from the source of electricity. Just make sure not to use anything metal-based or anything that’s wet.
- You need to stay away at least 20 feet if the other person has been shocked by a high-voltage source of electricity that is still on.
How can you treat electric shocks, and do they have a long-term effect on an Individual?
It doesn’t matter if the injuries seem minor or major; it’s important to visit a doctor after an individual is electrically shocked. Consulting a doctor is crucial because you’ll only get to know the internal injuries.
There are possible shock treatments available, based on the ability of the injuries, and they are :
- Burn treatments include sterile dressing and applying antibiotic ointment.
- There’s also a facility for pain medication.
- You can cure the person through intravenous fluids.
- A tetanus shot can also be provided based on the source of the electric shock and the reason behind its occurrence.
Now, let’s talk about the durability of electric shocks, whether their effects are for the long term or not. Some electric shocks can have a long-lasting impact on your health or body. For instance, severe burns can leave permanent marks if not from a low voltage electric source. It depends on the body part that has been affected by the electric shock. The most sensitive the body part is, the more harm the electric shock will cause.
What are the perks of hiring an electrocution lawyer?
It is the most crucial time when an electrocution lawyer comes into the picture. Ovadia Law Group is one such place where we mainly focus on safeguarding the victims of shock injury and the families who have lost their loved ones. Our electrocution lawyers have experience of over 12 years in fighting these cases for the sake of families and getting back what they deserve.
Ovadia’s Law Group has worked hard to bring a change into the industry where the public’s safety is not taken seriously and puts people at risk. We understand that people go through a severe impact when the electric injury caused by high voltage electrocution takes the life of their loved ones.
