Perilous power: Understanding the dangers of electrical injuries
Amputation plus heart, lung, deep muscle and nerve damage are common, experts say
By Roberta Burkhart, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Electrical injuries are relatively uncommon, but, when they occur, the damage can extend far beyond visible burns.
In recent weeks, two workers making repairs to home exteriors in Greenfield and Brookline suffered serious shocks when they accidentally came in contact with high-voltage electric lines. The same week, a Fayette County man was found dead after being electrocuted while trying to obtain wire from active electrical lines, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
Electrical injuries can damage organs, muscles, nerves and the heart — often with life-altering consequences, according to Jenny Ziembicki, medical director of the UPMC Mercy Burn Center.
“One of the number one things you have to worry about is cardiac arrest and cardiac arrhythmia," Ziembicki said. When electrical current — either high or low voltage — passes through the heart, this can cause fatal cardiac arrhythmia.
Household electricity falls into the low-voltage category and accounts for the majority of electrical injuries.
However, high-voltage injuries — when a victim comes in contact with greater than 1,000 volts — are often associated with workplace accidents. These can be devastating and are more likely to cause deep muscle damage, she said.
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