INTRODUCTION
The effect of electric shock may be death –
a)
due to fibrillation of heart. i.e.
damaging the heart to small pieces causing stopping of breathing;
b) due
to stopping of breathing action caused by blockade in the nervous system
causing respiration;
c)
due to local overheating or burning of body.
The fibrillation of the heart is the most serious cause of death and there is no cure, although there is possibility of rescuing a man who has suffered by the latter two causes.
CURE OF SHOCKS
When anyone gets a shock, the first and foremost duty of
the observer is to break the contact of the live mains and body either by
switching off the main supply or the
body should be rolled away with a dry wooden stick. If a stick etc. is not at
hand, a dry piece of cloth should be used to detach the body from the live
mains or if that is not available the
loose cloth such as coat or shirt of the victim should be pulled with care without touching his body.
In most of the electric shocks, it is momentary and the
contact with live wire is imperfect, in such cases breath stops momentarily.
But due to the shock the victim becomes unconscious, stops breathing and his
heart still beats, the most urgent and immediate cure for this victim is that
he should be given immediate artificial respiration and it should be continued
until the victim starts breathing normally. It should be borne in mind that if
the artificial respiration is stopped just after the victim recovers, he is
liable to become unconscious again. In such cases the artificial respiration is
to be continued for 6 to 8 hours. Method of artificial respiration is displayed
at every electric control room and substation.
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST SHOCK : Prevention is
better than cure.
1) Try
to avoid work on live mains which should be switched off before working.
If it is not possible to switch off the
mains, be sure before working that your hands or feet are not wet.
2)
When working on high voltages, be
sure that the floor is not conductor. Concrete floors are dangerously
conductive. When working on high voltage, try to keep your left hand in the
pocket i.e. avoid your left hand to get in contact with any live conductor or
metallic casing of an apparatus or metal pole or cross arms.
3) Do
not work in such a place where your head is liable to touch the live mains
before making the circuit dead.
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