Electrical burns: First aid
An electrical burn may appear minor or not show on the skin at all, but the damage can extend deep into the tissues beneath your skin. If a strong electrical current passes through your body, internal damage, such as a heart rhythm disturbance or cardiac arrest, can occur. Sometimes the jolt associated with the electrical burn can cause you to be thrown or to fall, resulting in fractures or other associated injuries.

Call for emergency medical assistance if the person who has been burned is in pain, is confused, or is experiencing changes in his or her breathing, heartbeat or consciousness.
While helping someone with an electrical burn and waiting for medical help, follow these steps:

Look first. Don't touch. The person may still be in contact with the electrical source. Touching the person may pass the current through you.

Turn off the source of electricity if possible. If not, move the source away from both you and the injured person using a nonconducting object made of cardboard, plastic or wood.

Check for signs of circulation (breathing, coughing or movement). If absent, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately.

Prevent shock. Lay the person down with the head slightly lower than the trunk and the legs elevated.

Cover the affected areas. If the person is breathing, cover any burned areas with a sterile gauze bandage, if available, or a clean cloth. Don't use a blanket or towel. Loose fibers can stick to the burns.

Chemical burns: First aid
If a chemical burns the skin, follow these steps:

Remove the cause of the burn by flushing the chemicals off the skin surface with cool, running water for 15 minutes or more. If the burning chemical is a powder-like substance such as lime, brush it off the skin before flushing.

Remove clothing or jewelry that has been contaminated by the chemical.

Wrap the burned area loosely with a dry, sterile dressing or a clean cloth.

Minor chemical burns usually heal without further treatment.

Seek emergency medical assistance if:

The victim has signs of shock, such as fainting, pale complexion or breathing in a notably shallow manner.

The chemical burn penetrated through the first layer of skin, and the resulting second-degree burn covers an area more than 2 to 3 inches in diameter.

The chemical burn occurred on the eye, hands, feet, face, groin or buttocks, or over a major joint.

If you're unsure whether a substance is toxic, call the poison control center at (800) 222-1222. If you seek emergency assistance, bring the chemical container or a complete description of the substance with you for identification.

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