Objectives

1.         Describe how to safely help a shock victim

2.         Identify 3 ways to prevent electrical accidents

3.         Discuss procedure for reporting defective equipment

Electrical malfunction is the 2^nd leading cause of fires in healthcare facilities.  Every year patients and healthcare workers experience pain, injury & death caused by electricity.

Below are some terms & principles associated with electricity:

§        Voltage—electrical pressure that moves electrical current

§        Conductor—Material through which electricity flows easily, i.e. water, copper, aluminum and other metals.

§        Contact with these conductors can greatly increase your risk of shock

§        Insulator—material through which electricity does not easily flow, i.e. rubber, plastic, enamel, glass, dry wood

§        Insulation does not make you shock proof 

All electrical equipment must be inspected prior to patient use.  For those who work in OR, it is important to note that in the operating room all the line operated equipment must be on an individual line isolation monitor.   

When electrical current flows through your body from an outside source you receive an electrical shock.  The following factors determine how you are affected:

Amount of voltage & current

Your body’s resistance

The path of current (through vital organs)

Microshock is another potentially fatal electrical hazard for patients with temporary transvenous pacemakers or with certain types of catheters to the heart. 

 Microshocks occur when a tiny amount of electricity flows down a conductor path directly to the heart muscle, causing irregular heart beats (arrhythmias) or ventricular fibrillation (the deadliest irregular heart beat).  Microshock current levels may be too small to cause any sensation.  Patients with external leads are at highest risk because the leads provide a direct, conductive path to the heart. Your body could conduct small amounts of electricity to your patient’s leads without your knowledge.

HOW TO PREVENT ELECTRICAL ACCIDENTS

• Replace any cords that are cracked, torn or rubbed off

• Remove plugs from outlets using the plug, not the cord

• Never break off or bend the 3^rd prong on a grounded plug

• Don’t use adapters…using too many cords in one outlet can cause circuit overload

• Extension cords are to be used ONLY for a TEMPORARY substitute for permanent wiring.

• Get safety instructions before using electrical power equipment.

• Make sure that your clothes, equipment and surroundings are dry when working with electrical equipment.

• Don’t touch a faucet, water pipe, metal counter or a grounded appliance while using power equipment.

• Disconnect electrical equipment from power source before cleaning

• Use electrical switch lockouts or tags when repairs are being made on electrical machinery.

•  Report ALL shocks, even small tingles

• Don’t touch exposed metal ends of pacing leads.

• Don’t touch other electrical devices including electrical lights or the electrical bed frames.

• When handling leads, insulate unused leads with a dry dressing or some other insulator.

  Rescuing a Shock Victim

Electricity kills by causing ventricular fibrillation and respiratory arrest.  It disrupts the rhythmic electrical activity of the heart and nervous system.

To rescue someone still connected to a defective device, call for help.  Call maintenance since an expert may be needed to turn off the power.  Do not touch the victim or the device until the power is off or you may become a victim too. 

Once the power is off, immediately check the victim’s pulse & respirations.  If they are absent, begin CPR.  CPR may be effective at saving severe shock victims.  Defibrillation may be needed in some cases.  Most victims recover when they are treated immediately.

Patient care equipment that is defective or not operating correctly must be evaluated by the Bio-Med department.  The equipment must be red tagged so someone else does not use it.  Other hospital equipment is the responsibility of maintenance.  Other defective equipment must also be red tagged & sent for repair

Be Safe-- Not Shocked!