injuries poisoning
Electrical Injuries
Key Points
In addition to burn injuries, AC can freeze the patient's hand to the current source, while DC can throw the patient, causing injury. Although skin burn severity does not predict the degree of internal damage, internal damage is more severe if the skin has low resistance. Examine patients completely, including for traumatic injuries. Consider ECG, CBC, cardiac enzymes, urinalysis, and monitoring unless patients are asymptomatic, are not pregnant, have no known heart disorders, and have had only brief exposure to household current. Refer patients with significant electrical burns to a specialized burn unit and, if significant internal damage is suspected, begin fluid resuscitation. 