Rescue

RESUSCITATION

are required to work on exposed electrical equipment,

use insulated tools and a nonmetallic flashlight.

Methods of resuscitating or reviving an electrical

shock victim include artificial ventilation (to

RESCUE

reestablish breathing) and cardiopulmonary

resuscitation (to reestablish heartbeat and blood

When a victim is rendered unconscious by

circulation).

electrical shock, and the victim is no longer breathing,

you should start artificial ventilation as soon as

Artificial Ventilation

possible. You should also check the victim's pulse,

(Respiration)

since electrical shock may also cause the heart to stop.

A person who has stopped breathing is not

necessarily dead, but is in immediate critical danger.

The person nearest the victim should start

Life depends on oxygen that is breathed into the lungs

artificial ventilation without delay and call or send

and then carried by the blood to every body cell. Since

others for assistance and medical aid. The only

body cells cannot store oxygen, and since the blood

logical permissible delay is that time required to

can hold only a limited amount (and only for a short

free the victim from contact with the electricity in

time), death will surely result from continued lack of

the quickest, safest way. This step must be done

breathing.

with great care, otherwise there may be two victims

The heart may continue to beat and the blood may

instead of one. If contact is with a portable electric

still be circulated to the body cells for some time after

tool, light, appliance, equipment, or portable

breathing has stopped. Since the blood will, for a short

extension cord, turn off the bulkhead supply switch

time, contain a small supply of oxygen, the body cells

or remove the plug from its bulkhead receptacle. If

will not die immediately. Thus, for a very few minutes,

the switch or bulkhead receptacle cannot be quickly

there is some chance that the person's life may be

located, the suspected electric device may be pulled

saved. A person who has stopped breathing, but who

free of the victim by grasping the insulated flexible

is still alive, is said to be in a state of respiratory

cable to the device and carefully withdrawing it

failure. The first-aid treatment for respiratory failure

clear of its contact with the victim. Other persons

is called artificial ventilation/respiration.

arriving on the scene must be clearly warned not to

The purpose of artificial ventilation is to provide

touch the suspected equipment until it is unplugged.

a method of air exchange until natural breathing is

Aid should be enlisted to unplug the device as soon

reestablished. Artificial ventilation should be given

as possible.

only when natural breathing has stopped; it must NOT

be given to any person who is still breathing. Do not

Where a victim is in contact with stationary

assume that breathing has stopped merely because a

equipment, such as a bus bar or electrical connections,

person is unconscious or because a person has been

pull the victim free if the equipment cannot be quickly

rescued from an electrical shock. Remember, DO

de-energized or if the ship's operations or survival

NOT GIVE ARTIFICIAL VENTILATION TO A

prevent immediate securing of the circuits. To save

PERSON WHO IS BREATHING NATURALLY.

time in pulling the victim free, improvise a protective

There are two methods of administering artificial

insulation for the rescuer. For example, instead of

ventilation: mouth-to-mouth and mouth-to-nose.

hunting for a pair of rubber gloves to use in grasping

For additional information on performing

the victim, you can safely pull the victim free (if

artificial ventilation, refer to Standard First Aid

conditions are dry) by grasping the victim's slack

Training Course, NAVEDTRA 10081-D.

clothing, leather shoes, or by using your belt. Instead

of trying to locate a rubber mat to stand on, use

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

nonconducting materials, such as deck linoleum, a

pillow, a blanket, a mattress, dry wood, or a coil of

When there is a complete stoppage of heart

rope. At no time during the rescue should any part of

function, the victim has suffered a cardiac arrest. The

your body directly touch the hull, metal structure,

signs include the absence of a pulse, because the heart

is not beating, and the absence of breathing. In this

furniture, or victim's skin.

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