Electricity Injury
Children are at risk for household accidents. This accident usually happens when children play with electric appliances or poke finger in electric socket or touch live electric wire. Electricity injury may cause superficial burn or at times may be life threatening.
Q.How can I prevent this happening?
A.Parents should be very careful about keeping electric sockets and appliances out of the reach of children, not leaving any live wire unattended anywhere and either keeping sockets plugged or using child proof sockets.
Q. What should I do in case the child gets electricity injury while waiting for the medical help?
A. One should not touch the child who is in contact with the electricity. The first thing is to shut the power off. The child should be removed from the source. If not possible, move the source away from you and the person, using a dry, nonconducting object made of cardboard, plastic or wood. Usually child cries, he should be counselled. In case he is not active and not crying, he should be taken to the Pediatrician immediately.
The child should be carefully examined for any burn anywhere on the body. If there is a burn, it should be covered with a sterile gauze bandage or a clean cloth and not with a towel or a blanket, because lose fibres can stick to the burnt area.
He should not be allowed to become chilled. If child is not breathing and there is no sign of circulation, one should start giving Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Q. After getting the electricity injury, if the child is fine, should I take him/her to the Pediatrician?
A. Every child who comes in contact with electricity, should be examined by a Pediatrician. Some of these children may have heart rhythm problems. The Pediatrician may suggest to do ECG.
Q. What can electricity injury cause to the child?
A. Electricity injury may only cause superficial burn. But, in some children or in some situation it may cause heart rhythm problems, cardiac arrest, convulsions, loss of consciousness or difficulty in breathing.