media release
excellence in care
July 25, 2013
Warning on electric shock … and hair straightener burns
NSW Ambulance is reminding people to be extremely vigilant when using household electrical
appliances, including checking for faulty connections and exercising care when using heating tools
such as hair straighteners.
It follows figures which show 232 Triple Zero (000) calls were attended by paramedics for electric
shock between January 1 and June 30 this year. In addition, paramedics attended eight calls for burns
caused by hair straighteners, and six for traumatic injury – including amputations - suffered by people
who had placed their fingers in blenders/food processors.
NSW Ambulance Inspector John Brotherhood said that sometimes it was our most common
household appliances that caused serious injury.
With electric shock, symptoms ranged from tingling and numbness to blistering, burns, disturbed heart
rhythm and even death.
th
“You only need 1000 of a milliamp to interfere with the electrical activity of your heart, which is not
much at all,” Insp Brotherhood said. “Basically, if the jolt moves you, if it takes your breath away or if
it’s at all a cause for concern, you need to get it checked out. If in doubt call Triple Zero (000) and we’ll
come out and check you out. We can do an ECG; so too can the local doctor and, of course, so can
the hospital.
“If there’s an entry wound and an exit wound, you definitely need to get it checked out. There’s no
messing around with that. It means the electricity has gone from one point to another - and travelled
through the body to get there.”
Insp Brotherhood said that often electric shocks were caused by faulty or frayed cord connections.
“In March, a 67-year-old woman at Narooma suffered a shock from her dishwasher after a mouse
chewed through the cord,” he said.
“Many others have suffered shocks while changing light bulbs and using power points and light
switches. Some of those shocks were suffered by people who touched power connections while their
hands were wet.
“The build-up of dust is another concern because it causes electricity to arc, especially on power
points.”
Insp Brotherhood advised the safe use of hair straighteners to guard against burns, and this included
after the appliance had been disconnected.
“Hair straighteners hold the heat for about 20 to 40 minutes after they’ve been turned off, so it’s
important they are monitored and kept out of the reach of children,” he said.
Insp Brotherhood said it went without saying that a person should never place their hands in a food
processor or blender while it was in operation.
In the event of electric shock, paramedics advise:
•
where burns exists, run it under cold water for at least 20 minutes;
•
remember the person is electrified until released. Take precautions against receiving a shock
yourself by switching off the electricity. If power cannot be disconnected, unless higher than
household voltage is involved, free the victim from contact by using a dry stick, board, rope,
clothing, plastic pipe or other non-conducting device. DO NOT touch the victim with your bare
hands or any metal or moist object;
Save Triple Zero (000) for saving lives
Ambulance Service of New South Wales
Media Unit
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.ambulance.nsw.gov.au
Tel: 02 9320 7796
Fax: 02 9320 7804
media release
excellence in care
•
assess the level of consciousness, then if victim is not breathing, conduct CPR; and
•
if at all concerned, dial Triple Zero (000) and ask for Ambulance.
The NSW Department of Fair Trading advises that most electrical accidents can be avoided if you:
•
don’t do it yourself – get a professional to do the job;
•
don’t mix water and electricity;
•
switch off before pulling out a plug. Grasp the plug – not the cord;
•
don’t spray household cleaners and insecticides on power points or switches;
•
replace damaged cords and older style plugs;
•
don’t stack plugs;
•
never leave an appliance near the bath or basin. Children have been electrocuted by pulling
hairdryers into baths even though the hairdryer switch was off. Unplug the appliance after
every use;
•
never touch an appliance which causes a ‘tingle’ or shock; and
•
safety switches, also known as residual current devices (RCDs) help protect you and your
family against the most frequent cause of electrocution where electricity passes through the
body to earth.
January 1 - June 30
SYDNEY:
7/1
22/1
23/1
25/1
29/1
4/2
12/2
12/2
15/2
7/3
24/3
29/3
1/4
1/4
2/4
9/4
22/4
8/5
10/5
13/5
14/5
11/6
23/6
Beverly Hills
Cremorne
Leonay
Kogarah
Punchbowl
Macquarie Flds
Lakemba
Plumpton
Ryde
Bidwill
Marrickville
Galston
Alexandria
Carlingford
Caringbah
Alfords Point
Box Hill
Riverwood
Ingleburn
Manly Vale
Picton
Bossley Park
Revesby
29yo f
3yo f
40yo f
50yo m
73yo m
15yo f
50yo f
14yo m
50yo f
4yo f
31yo f
2yo m
50yo f
35yo m
34yo m
51yo f
18yo f
55yo f
10mo m
23yo f
20yo f
31yo f
15mo m
Electric shock, used tweezers on broken light switch
Burns to left arm from iron
Zap from broken lamp
Burns from iron
Finger amputated in food processor
Burned neck with hair straightener
Finger partially severed in blender
Stuck finger in power point
Electric shock from toaster
Burned hand on iron
Shock from phone charger
Finger partially severed in blender
Shock from touching power point with wet hands
Shock while changing light bulb
Zapped by light switch
Shock from hair dryer
Burned hand with hair straightener
Cut finger in blender
Burned hand on hair straightener - was turned off
Electric shock from wet hair straightener
Shock from changing light bulb
Finger stuck in blender
Burns to hand from hair straightener
Save Triple Zero (000) for saving lives
Ambulance Service of New South Wales
Media Unit
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.ambulance.nsw.gov.au
Tel: 02 9320 7796
Fax: 02 9320 7804
media release
excellence in care
NORTH
3/1
7/1
10/1
11/1
29/1
1/2
3/2
10/2
15/2
30/3
8/4
29/4
7/5
27/5
29/5
6/6
16/6
Port Macquarie 35yo m
Blue Haven
28yo m
Islington
43yo m
Belrose
45yo m
Southbank
60yo f
Merewether Hts 40yo m
Wamberal
45yo f
Telarah
7mo f
Forster
13yo f
Port Macquarie 24yo f
Kurri Kurri
47yo m
Green Point
26yo f
Kurri Kurri
23yo m
Rutherford
49yo f
Point Clare
50yo f
Fernvale
59yo f
Jesmond
27yo f
Electric shock from vacuum cleaner
Shock from dishwasher
Shock while fitting light bulb
Partial finger amputation fixing blender
Shock from switch at washing machine
Double A batteries exploded in face, eyes. Burns
Zapped by light switch
Hair straightener burns on baby’s leg
Accidently cut cord while using sewing machine
Shock from frayed mobile phone cord charger
Electric shock from hair dryer
Shock from computer
Shock from smoke detector
Shock from toaster
Electric shock from phone
Shocked while hanging fairy lights
Electric shock from mobile phone
SOUTH:
22/2
5/3
7/3
19/3
29/3
18/4
20/4
12/5
14/5
25/6
Dapto
Farmb. Hgts
Berkeley
Dapto
Narooma
Kiama
Tocumwal
Gumly Gumly
Barrack Hts
Dapto
Electric shock from vacuum cleaner
Shock from antenna pole
Shock from a video game console
Electric shock while changing light bulb
Shock - dishwasher, mouse chewed through cord
Zapped by power point
Electric shock from hair straightener
Can hair spray exploded
Shock from heater, sparks flew out
Electric shock from hair straightener
WEST:
4/2
14/4
30/4
21/5
11/6
21/6
Sth Tamworth 22yo f
West Tamworth Male
Ulan
9yo f
Lightning Ridge 12yo m
Oxley Vale
14yo f
Molong
17yo f
55yo f
37yo m
22yo f
45yo f
67yo f
Patient
15yo f
17yo m
24yo f
30yo f
Electric shock from light switch
Touched switch with water on it
Shock from shower tap
Shock from computer keyboard
Shock from extension cord
Shock and burn from hair dryer
Save Triple Zero (000) for saving lives
Ambulance Service of New South Wales
Media Unit
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.ambulance.nsw.gov.au
Tel: 02 9320 7796
Fax: 02 9320 7804