Emergency guide to saving a patient who has been electrocuted

The maximum deaths due to electric shocks are noted in monsoon season

 Heart Care Foundation of India jointly with the Indian Medical Association, Delhi Red Cross Society and Delhi Police has taken up the challenge of training 100 per cent of the Delhi Police PCR van staff on the life-saving technique of hands only CPR 10 by Independence Day 2015. In today’s training session, a special focus was laid on how to help and revive electrocution patients in the monsoon.

Addressing the PCR van staff, Dr KK Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India and Honorary Secretary General IMA said, “Electrocution is extremely common in the monsoon months due to carelessness on part of the public. They are not aware of or do not take seriously simple rules that one must not touch any electrical switch or gadget barefoot or with wet hands. The Delhi police are the first to reach such an emergency situation and can help revive the patient by the simple and effective technique of hands only CPR 10. When approaching an electrocution victim the first instinct is to go and pull him or her out. However this can be extremely dangerous since electricity can get passed on from one person to another putting both the people at risk. What one must do instead is first switch off the electric current from the source. Then separate the victim using a non-conducting material such as wood, glass, plastic and paper. Then lay the victim on the floor and check if he is breathing. If not, begin the process of hands only CPR 10 immediately.”

Adding to this, Dr A Marthanda Pillai National President IMA said, “CPR, is a technique that involves chest compressions without artificial respiration to help save the life of a victim who has collapsed due to a sudden cardiac arrest. It must only be performed on a person who has no pulse rate and is not breathing. Chest compressions must be stopped only when the person starts breathing again or an ambulance arrives. If administered immediately, Hands only CPR can double a person’s chances of survival”.