General description of the disease
Electrical injury – damage to the integrity and disruption of the functioning of organs and tissues as a result of exposure to electric current or lightning on a person.
A person is threatened by exposure to a current of 0,15 A (Ampere) or 36 V (V – Volt) alternating voltage.
Varieties of electrical injuries, depending on:
- from the scene: natural, industrial, household;
- from the nature of the defeat: general (characterized by damage to various muscle groups, which is accompanied by convulsions and cessation of breathing and heart), local (as a result of exposure to electric current, burns appear, metallization may begin – small metal particles fall under the skin and straighten out under the action of an electric arc);
- from exposure: instantaneous (a sudden effect of an electric charge on a person that exceeds the permissible limits, which poses a threat to the victim’s life and requires urgent medical attention and hospitalization), chronic (a person regularly receives a small dose of electrical discharges due to the specifics of work, for example, workers large industries where generators with high power are located; the main symptoms of this type of electrical injury are constant headaches, problems with sleep and memory, the presence of high fatigue, tremors of the limbs, high blood pressure and dilated pupils).
In turn, general electrical injuries can be of different severity:
- 1 degree – there is a convulsive muscle contraction;
- 2 degree – muscle cramps are present, which are accompanied by loss of consciousness;
- 3 degree – along with loss of consciousness, there is a violation of the functioning of the heart or respiratory functions;
- 4 degree – clinical death.
Causes of electrical injuries:
- technical nature – improper operation of the equipment or its malfunction (poor insulation, interruptions in the supply of current);
- organizational nature – at work or at home (at home), safety rules are not followed;
- psychological factors – inattention, neglect, which were caused by various reasons (poor health, preoccupation with problems, lack of sleep and rest);
- objective reasons – the impact of lightning on the human body.
Signs of electrical injuries:
- 1 at the site of the entrance and exit of the current, burns are formed, similar to thermal burns of 3-4 degrees;
- 2 at the point of penetration of electric current, a crater-shaped hole is formed, at which the edges are calcified and have a gray-yellow tint;
- 3 tears and detachment of soft tissues in case of high voltage shock;
- 4 the appearance on the skin of “lightning marks” of a dark green hue, in appearance resembling the branching of a tree (this phenomenon is explained by vasodilation);
- 5 convulsions;
- 6 loss of consciousness;
- 7 absent-mindedness of speech;
- 8 vomiting;
- 9 violation of the functioning of the respiratory system or central nervous system;
- 10 shock;
- 11 immediate death.
After suffering a lightning strike, all of the above symptoms appear with greater force. Such blows are characterized by the development of paralysis, dumbness, deafness.
Useful products for electrical injury
When receiving extensive burns from electrical injuries, it is necessary to apply diet therapy, which will help:
- restore water, protein, salt, vitamin metabolism;
- reduce intoxication;
- increase the patient’s immunity to fight infections that are present in burn wounds;
- to accelerate the process of tissue restoration that have been damaged as a result of electrical injury.
If the patient has difficulty in taking food on his own, probed food should be connected.
The victim’s diet should include a large amount of protein, vitamin and iron. This is due to the high energy consumption for the restoration of the skin, a sharp decrease in body weight and loss of fluid (constantly oozing wounds, ichor is released), a large amount of energy is lost for bandaging.
Such patients are advised to adhere to the rules of the diet of table number 11. You can eat your usual meals with an emphasis on dairy products (cheese, cottage cheese, milk), eggs, low-fat meats and fish. These products improve the condition of bones, joints and skin.
Traditional medicine for electrical injuries
In case of electric shock, the first step is to:
- 1 feel the pulse, if it is absent or threadlike, do an indirect heart massage;
- 2 listen to breathing, if it is not there, you need to do an artificial one;
- 3 if everything is in order with breathing and pulse, the victim should be laid on his stomach, the head must be turned to the side (so there is no possibility that the patient will suffocate with vomit);
- 4 get rid of tight-fitting clothes;
- 5 prevent hypothermia (the victim needs to be rubbed, wrapped in warm clothes, overlaid with heating pads – in case of electrical injuries, the blood supply is disrupted);
- 6 if, after an electric shock, a person has burns, they must be covered with a clean, dry bandage; if the limbs (hands or feet) are damaged, cotton swabs or rolls of bandages must be inserted with their fingers;
- 7 conduct a careful examination (this is done in order to find other injuries and injuries and, if necessary, provide first aid);
- 8 if the victim is conscious, give as much clean water as possible to drink.
After all the measures have been taken, the person who has suffered an electrical injury should be taken to the hospital so that the specialists can conduct examinations and prescribe treatment. You should also consult a doctor in cases where the victim does not have any particularly dangerous external and physiological signs (they can begin at any time).
Hazardous and harmful products in case of electrical injury
- fatty meats, fish;
- culinary and animal fats;
- pastries, cakes, cookies with a high content of pastry cream;
- all non-living food.
Also, it is necessary to reduce the amount of cereals, baked goods and pasta consumed.
Attention!
The administration is not responsible for any attempt to use the information provided, and does not guarantee that it will not harm you personally. The materials cannot be used to prescribe treatment and make a diagnosis. Always consult your specialist doctor!