What Are Electrical Burns?

An electrical burn is an injury caused by physical contact with electricity. The source of this electricity can be natural, such as lightning, or artificial, such as a home appliance, faulty outlet, or downed power line. Electrical burns range in severity, from relatively mild to highly dangerous, with potentially fatal consequences. Mild cases are sometimes treatable at home, but more serious cases require immediate attention from medical professionals.

Electricity is inescapably part of our lives, so knowing how to respond to an injury caused by an electrical shock or discharge is critical. After assessing risk and applying basic first aid, seek help from an appropriate source, such as a Baptist Health emergency medical facility.

What Are the Three Types of Electrical Burns?

There are three major types of injury caused by a sudden electrical discharge:

• Arc burns: Arc burns result from the release of high-amperage electrical streams through the air by rundown or mishandled equipment. Arcing releases intense thermal and light radiation, both of which can burn. Blasts of this type also generate pressure waves, which can throw persons inside the blast radius with considerable force.
• Electrical burns: Electrical burns occur through direct bodily contact with electricity. The outward appearance of these burns is often limited to the hands but can result in extreme organ damage within the body. Direct contact with electricity also creates a fire hazard.
• Thermal-contact burns: Thermal-contact burns result from electrical discharges igniting other combustible materials in the immediate vicinity. This is most likely at work locations where potentially explosive gasses or vapors have accumulated.

Electrical burns are the most common of these in homes and frequently represent the greatest health risk.

Symptoms

The following symptoms are associated with electrical burns:

• Burnt skin
• Tingling sensations
• Feelings of numbness or weakness
• Dizziness or disorientation
• Headache

Other, more serious symptoms include:

• Irregular heartbeat
• Trouble swallowing
• Vision or hearing problems
• Labored breathing
• Muscle spasms
• Broken bones
• Loss of consciousness
• Seizures

Some parts of the body are especially susceptible to damage from electrical burns. These include the heart, kidneys, muscles, and the nervous system.

Causes

Electrical burns are caused by any source of electricity powerful enough to trigger tissue or organ damage in the human body. Some of the more common causes include:

• Contact with exposed electrical wiring
• Use of faulty electrical cords or plugs
• Contact with or being in close proximity to downed power lines
• Misuse of home appliances
• High-voltage electrical equipment failures
• Taser assaults
• Lightning strikes
• Submergence of electrical devices in water

Treatment

The treatment of electrical burns depends, in part, upon their severity. Superficial burns are limited to the epidermis (the external layer of skin). These are considered first-degree burns. Partial-thickness or second-degree burns are confined to the epidermis and the dermis, the skin layer immediately underneath it. Partial-thickness burns are considered minor if limited in scope, but major if spread across the body. Full-thickness or third-degree burns are the most severe. Full-thickness burns affect deeper levels of tissue and are often accompanied by organ damage within the body.

Treatment of superficial or minor burns begins at the accident site. Attend to the wound by:

• Placing a cool, damp cloth where burning is indicated
• Cleaning the surrounding skin
• Bandaging the damaged area

Major and severe burns require professional attention. You should:

• Evaluate and, if possible, eliminate the risk of further damage to the injured party (e.g., shutting off the power supply to an appliance)
• Call 911 or an emergency medical facility for assistance
• Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if the victim has stopped breathing (or find someone who knows CPR if you don’t)
• Cover the burn with a sterile dressing and keep the victim warm until help arrives

In cases of severe burns, do not attempt to move the victim or to clean the wound yourself.

The emergency or burn-unit medical team will treat a severe burn by:

• Administering pain medications
• Cleaning and wrapping the wound with special bandages
• Applying antibiotics and other infection-fighting salves
• Preparing the patient for surgery, if called for

The medical team may also collect blood and urine for analysis and administer an electrocardiogram (ECG), which measures the heart’s electrical activity. The purpose of these tests is to determine the extent, if any, of organ damage resulting from the accident.

Recovery

Recovery from an electrical burn depends, like its treatment, on the wound’s severity. If properly treated, superficial burns can heal in a week to a week-and-a-half’s time. Partial-thickness burns typically require one to three weeks of healing time. Assuming a prompt and appropriate medical response, full-thickness burns often entail a recovery period of several weeks or more.

Preventing Electrical Burns

There are several steps that you can take to reduce the possibility of electrical injury in your home. These include:

• Replace any device with evidence of a frayed or damaged electrical cord
• Insert childproof plug covers into electrical outlets when not in use
• Keep all electrical devices away from sinks, bathtubs, or other running-water devices
• Remove cords from sockets by pulling on the plug rather than the cord
• Never stick any object into a power outlet except for an electrical plug
• Limit the number of devices you plug into a wall socket or power strip
• Teach your children about the potential dangers of electricity

Make sure you receive proper training before handling electrical devices in a work setting. Follow Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) and industry-established safety guidelines at all times.

Find a Location Near You

Our ability to harness electricity has been a great plus for humanity but one that also poses a threat to health if not properly handled. If you or a loved one should experience an electrical injury, contact 911 or go to the closest emergency medical facility. Get directions to the nearest Baptist Health facility.