Electrical Injuries Flashcards
(23 cards)
Amperes (Amps)
Is a way to measure or referrer to the electrical current or flow of electricity from volts (potential) across a conductor (flow) considering for resistance
Volts
The difference in electrical potential between two points
Ohms
A measure of the ability to resist electrical flow
What tissue has low resistance?
Nerve tissue
What tissue has high resistance
Fat and bone tissue
What kind of resistance does skin have?
Both high and low depending on if it is wet or not
What does a lot of resistance mean
There will be more energy lost as heat, this is what leads to burns sustained in electrical injuries
What is an AC
Alternating current
-most common
-flows backward and forward
-measured in Hertz
-Will make you hold onto the source
What is a DC
Direct current
Less common in routine daily life. However, hybrid and electric vehicles operate on direct current
Factors that influence electrical injury
-Intensity of the current
-Type of current
-Tissue resistance
-Duration of exposure
-The pathway
What does low voltage AC cause
V-fib, can cause the pt to be stuck to the electrical source
What does high voltage AC or DC cause
Asystole, can throw a pt from the source which causes that pt to have secondary injuries
What three types of burns can be caused by electricity
-contact burn
-arc-type or flash burn
-flame burn
What is a contact burn?
-most common
-produces bulls-eye lesion sites
What are the parts of a contact burn
-Central charred zone (full thickness) (zone of coagulation)
-Middle zone of cold grey tissue (zone of stasis)
-Outer red zone of necrosis (zone of hyperaemia)
What is an arc-type or flash burn
Electrothermal injury caused by the arching of electrical current
Arc has a temp of 3000-20000 degrees
What are some concerns with the heart in an electrical emergency
-Dysrhythmias
-The current passing through the resp system can knock out the impulse to breathe
Currents as small as 0.1amps can cause a dysrhythmia
What is a concern with the kidney in regards to electrical emergencies
Renal dysfunction may occur as a result of myoglobin from the MSK damage
Severe muscle spasms may lead to fractures and dislocations
What are some concerns with the CNS in regards to electrical emergencies
-Peripheral nerve deficit
-seizures
-delirium
-confusion
-coma
-Temporary quadriplegia
-may affect muscle coordination and strength
Lightning injuries
DC
Resemble blast injuries
-damage to tympanic membranes of the ears and air containing internal organs
-muscle damage
-massive DC counter shock depolarizes the heart
Reverse triage system
Focus on the Red pts, yellow and green pts tend to improve on their own
Litchenburg lines
Burns in the micro vessels
Kouwenhoven factors
-current
-volts
-amps
-resistance
-duration
