Electric shocks are caused by live electricity passing through the body. It may cause shock and mild pain, or electrical burns at the site of entry or exit. Severe electrical shocks can make a victim unconscious and cause cardiac arrest.
However, for survivors, electrical burn treatment helps them regain health through surgery and therapy.
Electrical burns occur when body encounters electricity. It travels through the body, and damages organs and tissues. Depending on the extent of damage, it can cause death. In less severe cases fright and pain is experienced. However, if high voltage of current is passed through the body, victims undergo cardiac arrest, damaged muscle cells begin to leak into blood, eardrums or eyes are damaged, nervous system shuts down.
People experience electrical burns due to these common reasons:
Electrical burns impact different skin layers based on the duration of contact and voltage degree.
Minor electrical skin burns require putting a wet cloth, cleaning the area with an antiseptic and bandaging it. If blisters occur do not pop as risk of infection increases.
However, victims of electrical burns should be evaluated for injury to their body parts like heart, lungs, kidney, and spine. Their blood should be checked for any leaking muscle strains. Oxygen level should be monitored.
The patient should be administered intravenous fluids to rebalance the loss. Often, Parkland formula is given to patients with superficial burns. Additionally, diuretics can be administered if the urine indicates presence of burnt tissues.
Complications from electrical burns are like other burns, thus victims are susceptible to infection which may progress to sepsis, rhabdomyolysis, and compartment syndrome, due to extensive muscle damage from burns.
Additionally, fractured bones may occur due to falling from a height or the electrical source jolts the victim. Due to the body conducting high voltage, cardiac complications can occur, leading to cardiac arrest within 48 hours.
Thus, electrical burns patients must be constantly monitored for their vitals until 8 hours to detect injuries and complications and provide immediate electrical burn treatment.
We strive to help patients resume their lives. Thus, we help them to survive the electrical burns and regain mobility through occupational therapy. Our team of specialized burn surgeons, nursing staff, and occupational therapists, dedicate their skills and time to nurse patients to health and life.
Contact us for immediate and compassionate support.
Yes. Electrical burn causes mild skin damage but internal damage to your tissues and organ can be severe, and hence immediate medical help is required.
Perhaps. Your doctor will inquire about the injury and conduct medical exam. These tests will check for organ damage, and include blood and urine tests, and ECG for your heart.
Electrical burn treatment depends on degree of the burn and depth of injury. For mild burns, soaking the burnt area in cool tap water is enough followed by applying a burnt ointment, and ingesting pain medication. However, for second-degree and third-degree burns immediate hospitalization is required for specialized care.
Depending on the depth of the burn – first-degree, second-degree, or third-degree, healing time can be assessed.
For minor burns or first-degree, healing can take up to 2 weeks with proper medication and care. While for second and third degree burns it may take several weeks and months to heal under the guidance of specialized team of surgeons, medical staff, and occupational therapist.
We provide effective surgical and non-surgical treatments for all parts of the body. At Cutis Hospital, our cosmetic and plastic surgery team is committed to giving patients safe and high-quality care.
