{"id":204756,"date":"2019-05-14T14:26:45","date_gmt":"2019-05-14T12:26:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/?p=204756"},"modified":"2019-05-14T15:17:53","modified_gmt":"2019-05-14T13:17:53","slug":"electrocution-what-you-should-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2019\/05\/14\/electrocution-what-you-should-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Electrocution: What you should know"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>It doesn\u2019t really matter how many people it takes to change a light bulb, as long as safety measures, like switching the light switch off, are in place.<\/p>\n<p>ER24 has the following information for people with regard to electrocution.<\/p><div class=\"stream-item stream-item-in-post stream-item-inline-post aligncenter\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>Is an electrical shock always hazardous?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Common household electricity may only cause pain or a spark when you touch it briefly.<\/p><div class=\"stream-item stream-item-in-post stream-item-inline-post aligncenter\"><\/div>\n<p>This does not necessarily require medical treatment unless a heart rhythm disturbance was triggered.<\/p>\n<p>Prolonged contact with an electrical point will cause general body seizure movement and can cause severe burns, muscle damage, fractures and heart rhythm disturbance.<\/p>\n<p>If you are electrocuted in this way, medical attention must be sought even if you feel well afterwards as the muscle damage could lead to kidney failure.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000\">ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/199228\/man-in-critical-condition-following-electrocution\/\" target=\"_blank\">Man in critical condition following electrocution<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/204760\/breaking-news-high-ranked-empd-officer-dies-tragic-electrocution\/\" target=\"_blank\">Breaking News: High-ranked EMPD officer dies in tragic electrocution<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Direct contact with power lines and cables at electrical substations is often fatal.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Prevention:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Do not overload power points.<\/li>\n<li>Avoid exposed electrical wires.<\/li>\n<li>Stay indoors during lightning storms.<\/li>\n<li>Do not let children near plug points for electricity.<\/li>\n<li>Childproof power points.<\/li>\n<li>Never undertake any electrical work unless you understand what to do. If you do know what to do, you should still be careful as mistakes can happen.<\/li>\n<li>Treat all electricity connections and wires as live, even if they were switched off at the distribution board (sometimes referred to as \u2018mains\u2019).<\/li>\n<li>Never work in wet areas or with anything electrical and wet. Mowing the lawn or using power tools in wet weather, for example, is dangerous.<\/li>\n<li>General safety tips in your home should be to inspect your appliances\u00a0regularly, making sure that the power cords are not cracked or frayed; if an appliance sparks or smokes when it is switched on, replace the appliance immediately; make sure there are no unprotected live wiring sources in or around the home.<\/li>\n<li>When there is a power outage, treat all electricity points as live.<\/li>\n<li>Always read an electrical device\u2019s manufacturers manual and do not service electrical parts yourself that are marked for specialist repair only.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Signs and symptoms:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Burn wounds.<\/li>\n<li>Injuries, including fractures and spinal injuries, caused by muscle contraction and being flung against items.<\/li>\n<li>Heart rhythm disturbances.<\/li>\n<li>Loss of consciousness.<\/li>\n<li>Cardiac arrest.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Treatment:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Avoid exposure to the electricity source. If possible, switch it off.<\/li>\n<li>Remove the patient from the electrical source to a safe area.<\/li>\n<li>Check the patient\u2019s circulation, airway and breathing.<\/li>\n<li>If there are no signs of life, start CPR immediately.<\/li>\n<li>If a patient is breathing but unconscious, place the person in the recovery position.<\/li>\n<li>Cover the burn wounds with clean, non-absorbent material.<\/li>\n<li>Call ER24 on 084\u00a0124.<\/li>\n<li>Follow the telephonic advice and first aid until an ambulance arrives.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Hav<\/strong><strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-admin\/germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za\">germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"mailto:leighh@caxton.co.za\">leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0<a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"mailto:kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/germistoncitynews\/\">Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GCNnews\">Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/germistoncitynews\/\">Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCblgxW6BRXTLGLQvpcumLqA\">YouTube<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Or add the GCN on<span class=\"apple-converted-space\"><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/span><strong>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong><span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0<strong>BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong><span class=\"apple-converted-space\"><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"http:\/\/bedfordviewedenvalenews.co.za\/\">Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"http:\/\/albertonrecord.co.za\/\">Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"http:\/\/kemptonexpress.co.za\/\">Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"stream-item stream-item-below-post-content\">\n<div class='tenancy_slot tenancy_slot_1 jannah_ad' style='display: none;' data-query-id='379196fbd57af93a47a45d6923781074'><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ER24 has the following information for people with regard to electrocution.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":78,"featured_media":82354,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"hasGravity":false,"cxt_article_byline":"Content 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