Measures to take in case of electric shock to personnel on low-voltage equipment

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Measures to take in case of electric shock to a person using low-voltage equipment: 1. Disconnect from the source of electricity. If someone has been shocked by low-voltage live equipment, rescuers should try to cut off the power supply quickly, such as turning off the power switch or circuit breaker, or unplugging the power cord. Insulating tools such as dry wooden sticks, boards, ropes, or other non-conductive items can also be used to free the person who has been shocked； It is also possible to grab the electrocuted person’s dry, non-fitting clothes and pull them away; be sure to avoid touching any metal objects or the person’s exposed body ； Insulated gloves can also be worn, or the hand can be wrapped in dry clothing or similar materials to insulate it before freeing the person who has been electrocuted ； Emergency responders can also stand on insulating mats or dry wooden boards to insulate themselves while providing first aid. II. Treatment after the injured person is separated from the power source: If the person who has been electrocuted is conscious, they should be laid down on the ground, under close observation, and should not stand or walk around for the time being. For victims of electric shock who are unconscious, they should be laid down on their back at the scene, with their airway kept clear. Call out to the victim or tap them on the shoulder for 5 seconds to determine whether they have lost consciousness. It is forbidden to shake the injured person’s head to wake them up. For injured victims who require emergency treatment, proper first aid should be administered immediately on the spot, and efforts should be made to contact medical services to take over the care. III. Assessment of breathing and heartbeat: If a person injured by an electric shock loses consciousness, it is necessary to use visual inspection, listening, and palpation methods within 10 seconds to determine whether the victim is breathing and has a heartbeat. Check: Whether there are any movements in the injured person’s chest and abdomen. Listen: Place your ear near the injured person’s mouth and nose to listen for any sound of exhalation. Test: Check whether there is airflow exhaled from the mouth and nose. Use two fingers to gently check whether there is a pulse in the carotid artery located in the depression beside the Adam’s apple on one side (left or right). If the results of checking, listening, and testing show no breathing and no carotid pulse, it can be determined that breathing and heartbeat have stopped. IV. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: When a person injured by an electric shock stops breathing and having a heartbeat, cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be immediately carried out to provide proper first aid on the spot. There are mainly three types of cardiopulmonary resuscitation measures. 1. Keep the airway open. In victims of electric shock who have stopped breathing, it is important to always ensure that the airway remains unobstructed. If a foreign object is found in the injured person’s mouth, turn their body and head to the side simultaneously, and then use one finger or two interlaced fingers to insert it into the corner of the mouth in order to remove the object. During the procedure, care must be taken to prevent foreign objects from being pushed deep into the throat. 2. Mouth-to-mouth (nose) resuscitation: The mouth-to-mouth (nose) resuscitation method. While keeping the victim’s airway open, the rescuer uses the fingers of the hand placed on the victim’s forehead to pinch the nostrils. After taking a deep breath, the rescuer seals their mouth to the victim’s mouth and blows air in forcefully twice in a row, for 1–1.5 seconds each time. If no pulse can still be felt in the carotid artery after these two breaths, it can be determined that the heart has stopped beating, and chest compressions must be initiated immediately. Except for blowing hard twice at the beginning, the volume of air blown during normal mouth-to-mouth (or nose-to-mouth) resuscitation does not need to be large, to avoid stomach distension. When blowing air and relaxing, make sure that the injured person’s chest shows rhythmic breathing movements. If there is significant resistance when blowing, it may be due to insufficient backward tilt of the head, which should be corrected promptly. If the electrocuted victim has their teeth clenched, artificial respiration via mouth-to-nose can be performed. When performing mouth-to-nose artificial respiration, the victim’s lips must be kept tightly closed to prevent air leakage. 3. Chest compressions (1) Compression site. The correct compression site is an important prerequisite for ensuring the effectiveness of chest compressions. The steps to determine the correct pressing position are: 1) Use the index finger and middle finger of the right hand to move upward along the lower edge of the right ribcage of the person who has been electrocuted, until the midpoint where the ribs meet the sternum is found. 2) Place two fingers side by side, with the middle finger at the midpoint of the notch (at the bottom of the xiphoid process), and the index finger placed flat on the lower part of the sternum. 3) The base of the other hand, placed close to the upper edge of the index finger, on the sternum, represents the correct compression position. (2) Pressing posture. The correct compression technique is a fundamental requirement for achieving effective chest compressions. It should meet the following criteria: 1) The electrocuted victim should lie on their back on a flat, hard surface. The rescuer should stand or kneel beside the victim’s shoulder; the rescuer’s shoulders should be directly above the victim’s sternum. The arms should be kept straight, with the elbow joints fixed and not bent. The palms of the hands should be placed together, with the fingers raised and not touching the victim’s chest wall. 2) Using the hip as a pivot and the weight of the upper body, compress the sternum of a normal adult vertically by 3–5 cm (reduce the amount for children and thin individuals). 3) Once the desired pressure is achieved, release it completely immediately, but the rescuer’s hand base must not leave the chest wall during this release. The compression must be effective; the indicator of effectiveness is the ability to feel the carotid pulse during compression. (3) Operation frequency. 1) Chest compressions should be performed evenly, at about 80 times per minute, with equal time spent on each compression and relaxation. 2) Chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth (or nose) resuscitation are performed simultaneously, at a ratio of 15 compressions followed by 2 breaths per cycle (15:2), with this process repeated continuously ； In two-person resuscitation, one person performs 5 compressions followed by 1 breath from the other person (5:1), and this process is repeated. During the rescue process, assessments should be made every few minutes, with each assessment taking no more than 5–7 seconds. Before medical staff take over the rescue efforts, those conducting the rescue on site must not give up. V. Movement of the injured and transfer to another hospital during rescue efforts: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be continued at the scene; the injured should not be moved casually for convenience. If movement is indeed necessary, the interruption in rescue efforts should not exceed 30 seconds. When moving a wounded person or transporting them to the hospital, in addition to laying the victim flat on a stretcher with a flat, hard board under their back, first aid efforts should also continue throughout the process of movement or transportation. For those with stopped heartbeats and breathing, CPR must be continued; it cannot be stopped until medical staff take over the treatment. If the victim’s heartbeat and breathing have both returned to normal after resuscitation, CPR can be discontinued. However, there is a possibility of another cardiac arrest in the early stages when heart rate and breathing resume; close monitoring is necessary, and one must not become complacent, being ready at all times to carry out rescue efforts again. After initial recovery, if the victim is unconscious or confused, and their heart is beating rapidly, efforts should be made to keep them calm.