Page 52 - The City and Guilds Textbook: Plumbing Book 1 for the Level 3 Apprenticeship (9189), Level 2 Technical Certificate (8202) and Level 2 Diploma (6035)

The City & Guilds Textbook: Plumbing Book 1

2 Look, listen and feel for the victim’s breathing for no more than 10 seconds.
Is the chest rising and falling? Can you feel their breath against your
cheek? If breathing is normal, you can place the victim in the recovery
position. If breathing is not present, you will need to start cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR) immediately (see below).

Dealing with electric shock
Electricity is one of the most dangerous elements that we have to deal with.
It is indiscriminate, you can’t see it or smell it, but if you touch it, it could kill
you. The measure of shock’s intensity lies in the amount of current (measured
in amperes) that is forced through the body, and not the voltage. Any electrical
KEY TERM appliance used on a house wiring circuit of 230 V can transmit a fatal current.
Amp (and milliamp): unit While any amount of current over 10 milliamps (0.01 amp) is capable of
of electrical current, the producing painful to severe shock, currents between 100 and 200 mA (0.1 to
measurement of ampere.
0.2 amp) are lethal.

It is vital to know how to deal with a person who has had direct contact with a
live electricity power source, how to isolate them from the power supply and
administer CPR.
If you see someone who is in direct contact with electrical current, they need
immediate help. The victim may be unable to move because of muscle spasms, or
they may be unconscious. Helping such a person is very dangerous. If you touch
them, you may get caught by the current yourself and become a second victim.
First, you should try to turn off and unplug the appliance or, better still, turn off
the power at the electrical consumer unit (fuse box). If you cannot turn off the
power, try to get a long piece of dry wood (a broom handle will do) or any non-
conducting material, and try to break the contact between the victim and the
electricity.

Do not move the victim if there is any suspicion of neck or spinal injuries, unless
there is an immediate danger. Keep them lying down and check for a pulse and
their breathing.

If the victim is not breathing, apply mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If the victim
has no pulse, begin CPR if you are trained to do so.

Once a pulse and breathing have been established, cover the victim with a
blanket to maintain body heat, keep their head low and get medical attention.
Stay with the victim until help arrives.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

There are many instances where a person may need cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR), from exposure to fumes to a blow on the head and
electrocution, but what is CPR and how is it administered?

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