Electrical injury and electric shock

How to respond safely to electrical injuries, protect yourself from live power, treat burns and recognise when urgent medical assessment is essential.

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How to guide

What is electrical injury?

Electrical injuries occur when current passes through the body from domestic or industrial sources, lightning or faulty equipment; they can cause burns at entry and exit points, muscle spasms, respiratory arrest, arrhythmias and secondary trauma from falls.

First aid priorities are to ensure the scene is safe, isolate the power supply, assess airway, breathing and circulation, treat burns and arrange medical assessment for anyone who has received a significant shock, particularly if they lost consciousness or have cardiac risk factors.

Electrical injuries can cause internal damage and heart rhythm disturbances even when external burns seem minor, and electrocution is a recognised cause of workplace and domestic fatalities.

Who needs this skill?

Any environment using mains or higher-voltage electricity must plan for electrical incidents.

Health & Social Care

In health and social care, risks include medical equipment, bed frames and hoists; staff must follow electrical safety policies and report faults promptly, as well as treating any shocks seriously, especially in vulnerable patients.

Licensed venues & nightlife

In nightlife and licensed venues, stage equipment, lighting and temporary power supplies add to electrical risk, especially in wet environments; staff should treat shocks as serious events and document them for follow-up.

Schools

Schools host a large amount of electrical equipment and sometimes temporary event power; staff need to know how to isolate power, avoid live contact and take shocks seriously for both pupils and colleagues.

Workplaces

In workplaces, construction, maintenance, manufacturing and entertainment industries face particular electrical risks; first aiders must know how to isolate power, perform CPR and treat burns, and employers must ensure lockout/tagout and inspection regimes are robust.

How to manage electrical injury

These steps explain how to make electrical incidents safe, assess casualties and treat burns and potential cardiac effects.

1

Ensure the power source is switched off before touching the casualty

Do not touch a casualty who is still in contact with a live electrical source; instead, switch off the power at the mains or unplug the device if safe to do so.

If you cannot isolate power safely, keep clear and wait for emergency services rather than risking your own life.

2

Assess airway, breathing and circulation and start CPR if needed

Once it is safe, check responsiveness and breathing, and start CPR if the casualty is unresponsive and not breathing normally, sending for an AED where available.

Be aware that electrical injuries can cause arrhythmias and cardiac arrest, so continued monitoring is important even after apparent recovery.

3

Treat visible burns and other injuries

Cool burnt areas with cool running water for 20 minutes, cover with non-adherent dressings and manage associated injuries such as falls, fractures or head injuries using standard first aid principles.

Remember that electrical burns can be deeper than they appear, and that internal injuries may not be visible externally.

4

Arrange urgent medical assessment for significant shocks

Anyone who has received a mains or higher-voltage shock, lost consciousness, has chest pain, palpitations, breathing difficulty, confusion or burns should be assessed in urgent or emergency care.

Children, pregnant women and people with heart disease require a low threshold for hospital review.

5

Document and report the incident

Record the circumstances, equipment involved, first aid given and casualty outcomes, and ensure the incident is reported according to health and safety procedures and, where relevant, RIDDOR.

Faulty equipment should be withdrawn from use until inspected and cleared by competent persons.

This guide is a learning reference only. It does not replace attended, assessed first aid training.

Qualifying courses

These courses include electrical injury response alongside burn and cardiac arrest training, with specialist programmes available for high-risk industries. Choose the course that matches your role, sector, and the level of clinical practice required.

Common questions

Practical answers for employers, venue managers, and healthcare teams about electrical injury training.

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B

Is a small electric shock from a socket always dangerous?

Minor shocks from static or very brief contact with low-voltage equipment may cause fright but not serious harm; however, shocks from mains electricity or higher warrant assessment, especially if symptoms develop or loss of consciousness occurred.

B

Can I use a non-conductive object to move a live wire?

In theory, dry non-conductive objects can help move a live source away, but misjudgement can be fatal; the safest approach is to isolate power at the source rather than manually moving wires.

B

Do electrical injuries always cause visible burns?

No; some electrical injuries, particularly from brief contact, may leave little mark on the skin while still causing internal damage or arrhythmias. This is why medical assessment is advised.

B

How long should someone be monitored after an electric shock?

Monitoring duration depends on the severity of shock, symptoms and ECG findings; this is a clinical decision in urgent or emergency care. First aiders should advocate for assessment, not decide monitoring periods.

B

How can organisations reduce electrical injury risk?

Regular inspection and testing of equipment, safe systems for working on or near live conductors, appropriate PPE, clear lockout/tagout procedures and training in emergency response all reduce risk.