1. ELECTRICAL INJURIES

2. DEFINITION e·lec·tric·i·ty (ĭ-lěk-trĭs'ĭ-tē, ē'lěk-) n.
The physical phenomena arising from the behavior of electrons and protons that is caused by the attraction of particles with opposite charges and the repulsion of particles with the same charge.
The physical science of such phenomena.
Electric current used or regarded as a source of power.
Intense, contagious emotional excitement.

3. ELECTRICITY 101
HISTORY

4. 1600’s Electricity was studied by William Gilbert
Gilbert published a book on electricity and magnetism using for the first time the word electria

5. 1660
Otto von Guericke invented a machine that produced static electricity, this was the first electric generator.

6. 1729
Charles Francois du Fay discovered electricity comes in two forms, now known as positive and negative

7. 1745
Almost simultaneously in Holland and Germany the Leyder jar was invented. This was the first capacitor ( a device that stores and releases electricity)

8. 1747
Henery Cavendish began measuring the conductivity of different materials

9. 1752
Ben Franklin discovered that lightning and electricity are one in the same leading to Franklins invention of the lightning rod, the first practical application of electricity

10. 1786
Luigi Galvani discovered what we now know to be the electrical basics of nerve impulses by making a frogs muscles twitch when jolted with electricity.

11. 1831
The principle of conducting electricity was used to create the telegraph.

12. 1835
Thomas Davenport built the first roadworthy electric car, but due to battery cost it was not practical.

13. 1870
Thomas Edison was working with DC current and in 1885 Edison’s lighting system was developed

14. 1900’s
Finely in the early 1900’s George Westinghouse pioneered the use of AC current that we use today.

15. ELECTRICITY 101
Math

16. Electric Shock The severity of a electric shock depends on?
The current that passes through the body.
Where the current passes.
The length of time for exposure.

17. Electric Shock
Household current can feel as only a mild tingle to a fatal shock. Why?
The amount of resistance in the body.

18. Electric Shock Body Area Resistance (ohms) Dry skin100,000 to 600,000
Wet skin1,000
Internal body (hand to foot)400 to 600
Ear to ear~100

19. Electric Shock
AC vs. DC
AC, particularly of the common Hz (cycles/second) variety, is three to five times more dangerous than DC (direct current) of the same voltage and amperage (current strength).

20. Electric Shock Lets look at resistance and current.
Current is determined by Volts over ohms. Or
1.2mA……….or just enough to feel.

21. Electric Shock
Then in this example we have decreased the ohms.

22. Household Industrial High voltage
SCENE SAFETY
Household
Industrial
High voltage

23. HOUSEHOLD
Who is the MOST important person when responding to a electrocution in the household?
What hazards do we need to be aware of?
Has the Pt. been removed from the power source.
Has the power been shut off.

24. HOUSEHOLD
What can we do to assure that there will be no danger of becoming a victim?
What type voltage and current will we be dealing with.
110 to 220 & 1mA to 300mA
Voltages in this range will take the path of least resistance.

25. HOUSEHOLD 1mA Is the threshold of being able to feel a small tingle.
5mA Is the accepted maximum harmless current.
10-20mA Beginning of sustained muscle contraction (“I cant let go”).
mA V-fib, fatal if continued.

26. INDUSTRIAL Who is the MOST important person on the call?
Are there any additional hazards when we respond to the industrial site?
What types of voltage a current will we find here?
120 to 460 volts or more in AC or DC

27. INDUSTRIAL
What can we do to assure that there will be no danger of becoming a victim?
What type voltage and current will we be dealing with.
110 to 480 or more & 1mA to 300mA
Lower voltages will take the path of least resistance, while the higher voltages will follow the most direct to ground.

28. INDUSTRIAL
In the industrial setting we will find all the amperages we discussed in household.
Plus up to 6A or more.
In this range we can expect to see sustained ventricular contraction followed by normal heart rhythm, temporary respiratory paralysis & possibly burns.

29. HIGH VOLTAGE Who is the MOST important person on this call?
Are there additional hazards to this call?
Who will we need to contact with this type call?
What type voltages will we find here?
1000 to 1,000,000 volts

30. HIGH VOLTAGE Who will be exposed to this type hazard? Auto accidents
Ice storms
Tree services
Roofers
Cable TV
Power company crews
Construction sites

31. HIGH VOLTAGE
This type of voltage will take the shortest path to ground.
There will be entrance & exit burns.
Extensive tissue damage between the entrance & exit.
Upon exit the electricity can cause the tissue to explod

32. HIGH VOLTAGE
Entrance Wound: High resistance of skin transforms electrical energy into heat, which produces burns around the entrance point (dark spot in center of wound). This man was lucky, the current narrowly missed his spinal cord.

33. HIGH VOLTAGE
Exit Wound: Current flows through the body from the entrance point, until finally exiting where the body is closest to the ground. This foot suffered massive internal injuries, which weren't readily visible, and had to be amputated a few days later.

34. HIGH VOLTAGE
This man was near a power box when an electrical explosion occurred. Though he did not touch the box, electricity arced through the air and entered his body. The current was drawn to his armpits because perspiration is very conductive.

35. HIGH VOLTAGE
This worker was shocked by a tool he was holding. The entrance wound and thermal burns from the overheated tool are apparent

36. HIGH VOLTAGE
This worker fell and grabbed a power line to catch himself. The resulting electric shock mummified his first two fingers, which had to be removed. The acute angle of the wrist was caused by burning of the tendons, which contracted, drawing the hand with them.

37. CONCLUSION BE SAFE DON’T BECOME PART OF THE PROBLEM!!!! THINK!!!
Airway.
Breathing.
Control bleeding
Treat the cardiac issues per A.C.L.S.
This is a trauma Pt.