Someone Got An Electric Shock: What To Do

What's happening?

This page is for the minutes after a shock at home: what to do for the person, then what to do about the electrics. Mains electricity in a UK home is 230 volts, enough to stop the heart or cause deep burns where current enters and leaves the body. The first danger is to the rescuer: a person still gripping a live appliance or cable can pass the current to you. Electrical Safety First and St John Ambulance give the same order: break the contact without touching them, call for help, then treat. Electrical Safety First warns that the effects may not be obvious straight away and can include deep burns, muscle damage and heart rhythm problems. Once the person is safe, the fault that shocked them is still there, so leave the circuit off until an electrician has found it.

What usually causes it?

• Touching a faulty appliance with a live casing, often one used near water
• A damaged flex or plug with exposed conductors
• A cracked or broken socket, switch or light fitting
• DIY work on a circuit that was thought to be off
• Water getting into a fitting, appliance or extension lead
• A missing earth or bonding fault that puts voltage on metalwork such as taps or radiators

Is it dangerous?

Yes. Treat every mains shock as a medical emergency until proven otherwise. Call 999 immediately if the person is unconscious, not breathing normally, has chest pain or an irregular heartbeat, is confused, or has burns. The NHS says burns caused by electricity should be seen at A&E. A person who feels fine can still have internal burns or heart rhythm changes, so they should get medical advice the same day.

Can I fix it myself?

Follow this order. 1. Do not touch the person if they may still be in contact with the source. 2. Switch off the power: unplug the appliance, switch off at the socket, or turn off the main switch at the consumer unit (fuse box). 3. If you cannot switch it off, stand on something dry and insulating and push the source away from them with a dry wooden broom handle or similar, never anything metal or wet. 4. Once contact is broken, check whether they are breathing normally. If not, call 999, start CPR and ask someone to fetch a defibrillator if one is nearby. 5. If they are breathing, call 999 if they are unconscious or have any burns, chest pain or confusion; otherwise call NHS 111 for advice. 6. Cool any burns under cool running water for 20 minutes and do not put creams or butter on them. 7. Leave the circuit off. Do not use the appliance or fitting again.

When should you call an electrician?

Once the person has been looked after, call an emergency electrician. Keep the circuit and the appliance that caused the shock switched off and untouched until then. Tell the electrician what the person touched, what they were doing and whether any trip switch went off. If an RCD did not trip, say so: that is part of what needs testing.

What will the electrician actually do?

• Make the installation safe and isolate the faulty circuit or appliance
• Find the fault that caused the shock: a damaged fitting, appliance, cable or earthing fault
• Test earthing, bonding and insulation resistance on the affected circuits
• Test that the RCDs trip correctly, and advise if any circuits have no RCD protection
• Repair or replace the faulty parts and confirm the installation is safe to use

Who fixes this

• Emergency electrician
• Electrical fault finding

What it usually costs

Emergency Electrician Cost

£80–£100 / hour

Electrical Fault Finding Cost

Priced on survey

Questions people ask

Sources & References

1. Electrical Safety First: First aid tips for electric shock
2. St John Ambulance: Electric shock first aid
3. NHS: Burns and scalds (electrical burns need A&E)
4. HSE: Electrical injuries