Electrical Accidents

What are electrical accidents?

Electrical accidents are injuries resulting from electrical circuitry in the home or workplace. Victims may suffer electric shock, electric burn, or the electrical accident may result in a fire that can cause injury.

How do electrical accidents occur?

Electrical accidents are often due to either poor wiring or ill-advised behavior on the part of the victim. Many accidents are attributable to residences or businesses with poor electrical wiring or out-of-date electrical devices to prevent accidents. Damaged or old wires, loose connectors, and the like are often culprits to accidents.

Wires should not be used if they are frayed or damaged. In addition, older buildings or appliances often lack devices such as three-prong outlets and plugs, polarized plugs, and ground fault circuit interrupters, which all help to prevent shock and electrocution. Many bad habits can also lead to electrical accidents. Overburdening an outlet or cord is poor practice, as is using light bulbs that are the wrong wattage for the fixture. Wires should never be placed directly under carpets or rugs. In the workplace, creating a safe environment in which to work and using protective equipment are the best preventative measures.

What are the different types of electrical injuries?

The most common type of electrical injury is electric shock. The victim exposes his or her body to electrical current by placing an extremity across the circuit. Because the body is mostly water, it has a relatively low electrical resistance, and the current takes a path through human tissue.

A very weak current may lead the victim to feel nothing at all, or possibly a slight tingle.

A somewhat higher current will cause muscle contraction, making it difficult for the victim to pull away from the source. Even stronger currents will result in respiratory or heart failure. At its strongest, an electric current will cause tissue to burn. This is commonly called electric burn.The burns may be obvious, or can be completely internal.

In the case of internal injuries, there may only be an entry and exit wound from the body. The current may take a path through bone, for example, burning only deep muscle tissue. This is why a victim of electric shock should always be given immediate medical care.Electric accidents can also result in electric fires. Running cords under carpeting or leaving flammables near a technical work area are common culprits. Electric fires are uniquely dangerous in that attempting to put them out with water only exposes a person to greater danger.