KNYSNA NEWS - The danger that illegal electricity connections pose was recently highlighted by the death of a 10-year-old boy from Bloemfontein, White Location in Knysna, and with it the inability of the government to curtail such connections.
Siyolise Hoza died after he was allegedly electrocuted by an illegal power connection near his home. The incident that led to the young boy's death happened earlier this year (23 June), while he was playing with friends in a neighbour's yard. It is alleged that he fell and landed with his head on exposed live wires.
The municipality said shortly after the incident that there is little they could do to mitigate such dangers because it is of residents' own doing.
In light of this hazard around many homes in the more informal areas, Knysna-Plett Herald brings readers the following ER24 tips on prevention, signs and symptoms, and the treatment of an electrocuted victim.
Is an electrical shock always hazardous?
Common household electricity may only cause pain or a spark when you touch it briefly. This does not necessarily require medical treatment unless a heart rhythm disturbance was triggered.
Prolonged contact with an electrical point will cause general body seizure movement and can cause severe burns, muscle damage, fractures and heart rhythm disturbance. 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. Direct contact with power lines and cables at electrical substations is often fatal.
Prevention:
- Do not overload power points.
- Avoid exposed electrical wires.
- Stay indoors during lightning storms.
- Do not let children near plug points for electricity.
- Childproof power points.
- 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.
- Treat all electrical connections and wires as live, even if they are switched off at the distribution board (sometimes referred to as "mains").
- 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.
- General safety tips in your home should be to inspect your appliances regularly, 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. Also make sure there are no unprotected live wiring sources in or around the home.
- When there is a power outage, treat all electricity points as live.
- Always read an electrical device’s manufacturer's manual and do not service electrical parts yourself that are marked for specialist repair only.
Signs and symptoms:
- Burn wounds.
- Injuries, including fractures and spinal injuries, caused by muscle contraction and being flung against items.
- Heart rhythm disturbances.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Cardiac arrest.
Treatment:
- Avoid exposure to the electricity source. If possible, switch it off.
- Remove the patient from the electrical source to a safe area.
- Check the patient’s circulation, airway and breathing.
- If there are no signs of life, start CPR immediately.
- If a patient is breathing but unconscious, place the person in the recovery position.
- Cover the burn wounds with clean, nonabsorbent material.
- Call ER24 on 084 124, and follow the telephonic advice and first aid until an ambulance arrives.
Article: Supplied
Read a related article: Knysna boy electrocuted
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