Transcript Electrical Injuries

Electrical Injuries
Electrical burns are nearly always
worse than they appear. Why?
What are ways that people obtain
electrical burns?
Electrical Injuries
Human factors:
Males, especially young males
Male to female ratio is 17:1 highest for all forms of accidental
death
Reasons??
Factors influencing the
effects of electricity on the
human body
Type of current - AC Vs. DC
Value or intensity of current
Voltage or force of current
Resistance of the body
Pathway of the current
Duration of contact
Prevention of electrical
injuries
Do’s and Don’ts of electrical safety
House should be checked to insure
that they are wired correctly.
What are some signals that there
may be a problem with inadequate
wiring?
How are electrical cords misused?
Prevention of electrical
injuries
What are some safety principles
regarding the use of electrical
appliances?
Precautions for outdoors?
Lightning
Responsible for more deaths
annually than any other type of
stormy weather phenomena.
80% of deaths and injuries are to
males
Injuries - burns and tissue
destruction
Deaths - loss of respiration;
ventricular fibrillation
Injury Prevention for
lightning
Protect yourself when
thunderstorms threaten:
Get inside home or vehicle
Avoid using telephone unless in
an emergency.
Showers?
Injury Prevention for
lightning
If you are outside, what are some
safety measures?
Do not stand under a natural
lightning rod such as a tall tree in
an open, isolated area.
Outdoor lightning
precautions (2)
Avoid projecting from the
surrounding landscape, e.g. open
field, hilltop, on the beach.
Get out of and away from open
water.
Get away from tractors and other
metal farm equipment.
Outdoor lightning
precautions (3)
Get off and away from motorcycles,
scooters, golf cart, and bicycles. Put
down the golf clubs -- even the “1”
iron!
Stay away from metal pathways
which could carry the electricity to
you, e.g. wire fences, clotheslines,
metal pipes.
More lightning precautions
In a wooded area seek shelter in a
low area under a thick growth of
small trees.
In open areas, seek a low place
such as a ravine or valley.
If stuck in an open area and you
feel your hair stand on end, drop to
your knees and crouch very low.
Do not lie flat on the ground.