SAS Urban Survival Handbook by John Wiseman Page B

shock is very painful and frightening. The effects and seriousness depend on the circumstances and the individual. If the body is wet, or in wet conditions, a shock is more likely to be fatal. Most fatal shocks at domestic voltage happen when the current passes from one hand to the other—and therefore through the heart. Expect any of the following:
     
◑ Muscle spasms which cause the victim to grip the source of current. You must NOT touch the victim or the source of the current—you will also receive a shock. You MUST sever the contact with a non-conductor—a leather belt, a stick, a piece of furniture, a piece of clothing (avoiding body contact)
◑ The person may have fallen and hurt themselves, or may fall when the current is broken
◑ The heart may have stopped beating
◑ Breathing may have stopped
◑ Severe muscle spasms have been known to break bones
◑ There may be severe burns
◑ The victim may be unconscious or even ‘dead’ (but revivable with urgent medical attention)
     

WARNING
     
    If someone is electrocuted by extremely high voltages from overhead cables, do not even get close to them. If you attempt to sever the contact with a ‘non-conductor’ such as a stick or a piece of clothing, the current will ‘jump’ the gap. Call for help.
     

SAVE A LIFE!
ELECTROCUTION
     
    You must act quickly. If someone else is with you, they should call an ambulance while you apply first aid
     
► CHECK! Is current still flowing? DON’T touch victim or source of current
► CHECK! Is there water about? You may be at risk
► SWITCH OFF at consumer unit or socket OR
► Pull victim free with leather belt, dry towel, stick Knock victim’s hand free with a stick IF victim is dry, grasp clothing WITHOUT touching body
     
    If victim has fallen there may be other injuries—don’t move the person unless you have to
     
     
    IS VICTIM BREATHING? IS HEART BEATING?
    If not breathing: Give artificial respiration—either mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose. DON’T GIVE UP!
    If heart not beating: Check for pulse. Victim may look ‘blue’, especially round lips. Give cardiac compression.
    If not breathing AND heart not beating: Give six compressions alternated with two lung inflations.
    If you have help: One person concentrates on breathing, the other on the heart.
     
     
    WHEN BREATHING AND HEARTBEAT ARE OK
    Place victim in recovery position.
     
     
    BURNS
    As soon as possible— at once, if there is more than one first-aider, reduce the temperature of the burns with cold water/ice. If working alone, attend to the heart and breathing first.
     

Don’t take chances
     
    If someone has received a shock, especially if they have lost consciousness as a result, they should have an immediate medical check-up. Even if the victim appears well, they should be kept warm and quiet until the effects of the shock have definitely passed.
    Burns, even when the shock does not appear to have other adverse effects, may be quite deep. Reduce the temperature as quickly as possible. Seek medical attention.

WARNING
     
    If you attempt to work on any part of a domestic circuit, then the whole circuit must be rendered harmless at the consumer unit. If you have a fuse box, take the fuse out and keep it in your pocket. That way you definitely KNOW no one will switch the current back on while you are working. DON′T play games with electricity. DON’T take chances with electricity. DON’T GUESS. If a problem develops, go to the meter / consumer unit /fuse box and turn off the supply.
     

No earth wire?
     
    Not every appliance has an earth wire. You can see from the flex (especially when connecting a plug) if there is only a live and a neutral wire.
    Older lighting circuits were rarely earthed. This was because it was considered unlikely that people would regularly touch ceiling fittings.
    Some appliances have plastic casings which cannot become live, or may claim to be ‘double insulated’. Such appliances rarely have an earth