First aid steps for children with electric shock

Posted by Master, Doctor Pham Khac Tiep - Pediatric Center - Vinmec Times City International Hospital

Electric shock is a common daily life accident in children because the curiosity always wants to find, hold or touch electrical appliances in the house. Early detection, early first aid is an important key to help limit the harm caused by electric shock to children.
The consequences of electric shock are extremely serious. First aid steps for a child with an electric shock include:

First of all, you need to turn off the power to ensure the safety of you and those around you in an emergency.
To power off: Unplug the appliance if the plug is undamaged, or turn off the power through a circuit breaker, fuse box, or external switch. If you can't turn off the power: Stand on something dry and non-conductive, such as a phone book or wooden board. Try to separate your child from the power source by using a non-conductive object such as a broom or chair made of wood or plastic or rubber. If high voltage lines: Immediately notify your local power company to turn them off. Do not try to separate your child from the power source if you feel tingling or numbness in the legs and lower body or it is not safe to

When you can safely touch the child, perform CPR if the child is not breathing or has no pulse.
Call for help if there is only someone near you Carefully place the child on his or her back on a firm and hard surface If you suspect a neck or head injury, move the child by moving the entire body (head , neck, spine and hips) together, keeping them all in line. When giving CPR: With an infant, place your mouth over both the baby's nose and mouth to give a tight breath. For older children, squeeze the side of the child's nose with one hand and bring your mouth over the child's mouth. Blow into the child's mouth for 1 second. Your baby's breasts will swell when you do this. Repeat the breath a second time. Start chest compressions:
Place of chest compressions: Above the breastbone, level with the junction of the nipples. Use the back of your hand to apply chest compressions. Start quickly pressing down on your chest about 1/3-1/2 of the ribcage in anteroposterior diameter and then release the pressure. Make sure your chest compressions are not the nasopharynx. Compression rate 100 beats/min. Allow your chest to fully expand between compressions. If you are alone, give first aid: do 30 chest compressions, then give 2 breaths. If there are 2 rescuers: give 15 chest compressions, then give 2 rescue breaths. Every 2 minutes, the child should be checked to see if the child has a pulse and is breathing. If the child is not breathing, continue giving chest compressions until 911 arrives. Check for other injuries: If the child is bleeding, try to stop the bleeding by dressing, applying pressure, and elevating the wound if it's an arm or leg. It is possible to break a bone from a child falling down. Check your child for burns
Note: Children who receive an electric shock always need urgent medical attention - even if a child appears to be fine afterwards or gets an electric shock from an electric shock. Therefore, call 911 or take the child to the nearest medical facility.

The pediatric department at Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for receiving and examining diseases that infants and young children are susceptible to: viral fever, bacterial fever, otitis media, pneumonia in children. ,... With modern equipment, sterile space, minimizing the impact as well as the risk of disease spread. Along with that is the dedication from the doctors with professional experience with pediatric patients, making the examination no longer a concern of the parents.
SEE ALSO:
First aid for electric burns How dangerous are electric burns? What to do in case of electric shock due to electric shock?