Connecting to electricity illegally, cable theft, undertaking electrical work without fully understanding what to do, being negligent and not ensuring that exposed live wires for example are attended to.
These are some of the ways in which people are putting their lives in danger. ER24 is urging people to be careful as well as to refrain from activities such as connecting to electricity illegally or stealing cables.
ER24 paramedics have attended to incidents where people sadly died due to electrical injuries sustained.
Where victims survived, many were left in a serious or critical condition. Be it at home, work or outdoors, everyone should exercise safety when dealing with electricity.
Below are some safety tips for people:
- Always be alert when using electrical appliances.
- Never undertake any electrical work unless you understand what to do. If you do know what to do, you should still be careful as mistakes can happen. You should never work on anything that still has current. The current should be shut off prior to work beginning. Remember to turn off the switch or main power supply when working on something like a light bulb for example.
- Treat all electrical cables and outlets as live, even during load shedding or general power failures.
- Never work in wet areas or with anything electrical and wet. Mowing the lawn or using power tools in wet weather for example is dangerous.
- Do not overload sockets as they may become hot and burn away insulation. You may be electrocuted if you touch it. It can also start a fire.
- Ensure extension cords are in good working order. Inspect extension cords for damages before using it. Ensure cables and cords are kept out of reach of children. Secure all plug points or electrical outlets with covers.
- Beware of exposed live or damaged wires at home or when anywhere else. Ensure you get these fixed if at home or report those found in public areas for example, to the relevant authorities.
- If someone decides to help a person who has been electrocuted, they should ensure their own safety first. They will be of no use to the victim if they become a victim as well.
Willem Stassen, Senior Flight Paramedic at ER24, added that people should also be attentive at their place of work. A number of incidents he has attended to, occurred at the workplace. “This is often related to someone inadvertently switching on the mains while another works on the electricity. In addition, I have also had incidents where individuals tried to connect to electricity illegally or steal cables. These are all unsafe practices and must be avoided,” he said.
Lightning
Not many people are aware of the dangers of lighting. A person who is electrocuted could be affected in a number of ways. The greater the voltage and longer the exposure, the greater the injury. Injuries commonly caused by lightning include burns and damage to the nervous system, heart, muscles or soft tissue.
Explaining further, Stassen said, “The heartbeat is regulated by electrical impulses (small electricity currents) that run through the heart that allows it to pump in a regulated and ordered manner. When a person is electrocuted, normal electrical impulses of the heart may be disrupted, causing disorganised currents. This may lead to cardiac arrest. Further to this, electrocution and lightning strikes may cause mild to severe burns depending on the voltage and the length of exposure. It may also cause breakdown of the muscle cells in the body, releasing potassium and other chemicals. These electrolytes and chemical surges may further interfere with the heartbeat and lead to renal failure.”
Tips:
- If you are outside, seek shelter indoors immediately if you sense a storm approaching.
- You should avoid high ground, standing under a tree for shelter, open structures and spaces as well as tall isolated objects such as street light poles.
- Get to safety as soon as possible. Get into a building or a hard topped vehicle however, remember not to touch anything metal as a precaution. Remember to keep windows closed.
- If you are at home or in a building, you may still be at risk. Avoid water, electronic equipment and windows.
- If you see someone who has been struck by lighting and they are unresponsive, immediately call for help. Move them to a safer area if possible.
- If they are unresponsive and you are trained in CPR, immediately start chest compressions. Do not delay the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) if available.
Stassen said, “CPR and defibrillation has consistently been linked to outcome. The sooner CPR is started and the sooner the patient is defibrillated (if indicated) the better the chance of survival.”
In case of a medical emergency, contact ER24 on 084 124.
Chitra Bodasing
ER24 spokesperson
Also view:
Safety with Electricity and Preventing Electrocution