ELECTRICAL ACCIDENTS

Evening Star, Issue 19894, 16 June 1928, Page 15

ELECTRICAL ACCIDENTS

FACTORS WHICH CAUSE DANGER METHODS OF RESUSCITATION “ APPLY FOB HOURS IF NECESSARY.” How these arc apt to occui * how to avoid them, and how to save the lives of tho victims, are explained by Henri De Varigny, in an article contributed to ‘La Science Moderne ’ (Paris). Mr Varigny derives many of bis tacts from Dr A. Zimmorn, director of the Paris municipal institute of radiology. It is a general belief, be says, that danger from accessible electric conductors is present only when two are touched at the same time —that is, there is “ bi-polar contact.” This is a groat mistake, he tells us. Unipolar contact is enough from the moment when there is also connection with the earth, lie goes on: —

“It is possible to ‘make an earth’ with a simple incandescent bulb. _ A slight defect in insulation will bring the subject who touches the protective covering in contact with the electromotive force, and th«* current passes through him into the ground. “Tho risk varies with conditions. Jt is a maximum in a boiler, into which a workman goes with an electric light, to clean it. The lamp makes contact with tho wall of tho boiler and electrocution takes place. On the other hand, on a carpet or linoleum, tho danger is slight. There is some degree of danger on concrete, which may chance to be wet. Metals and moisture, which are good conductors, must be treated with care. The same accident might bo fatal pu damp ( ground that would not bo serious on dry soil. From, crossed aerial wires, j four fires started in a bunch. Two I plants on dry ground experienced, tho i one a shock, the other a heating effect, 'with no inconvenience. But a wine ' merchant in a cellar was electrocuted.

“Not much logic and rio imagination is needed to reach tho conclusion that accidents are especially to bo guarded against in tho laundry or tho kitchen. And in these two rooms it is particularly dangerous to hold nn electric lamp in one hand and turn a water-faucet with the other.

“ It should be noted in passing that a lamp does not have to be lighted to bo dangerous. For the contact-breaker is not necessarily on tho live wire—in which case there would be no danger—it may bo on tho neutral, and beyond it there may bo a voltage of 110 to 220, in which case a defective lamp may bo a .serious menace.

“After what has been said of tho danger of moisture with defective lamps, wo should not be surprised to learn that solid contact is not indispensable. An ‘ earth ’ is perfectly established through a conducting liquid. Firemen know this, and it is forbidden to throw a jot of water against a liro wire.

“ The conductibility of liquids also explains various accidents that may happen to bathers, as occasionally related in the daily Press. A bath-tub forms a very effective ‘earth.’ Electrocution takes place in divers ways. Zimmern relates a case where the victim was killed by a mctallio bell wire, The strands, worn by use, had become crossed with Ihe electric light wires, and' as the man was in the bath tub ah’ earth connection w r as easily made. AN ENGINEER’S MISTAKE.

“In another case the victim was a young girl, who, while bathing, grasped an electric radiator of red copper to dry her hair. The insulation waa defective, and the current passed through her arm. But one of the most remarkable instances was that of an engineer who, having _built himself an electric heater for his bathroom, was killed while bathing- by_ leaning out from the tub to light a cigarette at the incandescent resistance. If an electricia’, could make such a mistake, what may we not expect from the general public? It is rather surprising that the electric companies do not notify their subscribers of what they ought not to do and of the _conditions_ that are favourable to accident. This is all the more necessary since the tendency is to vse electricity for all sorts of domestic purposes. In all electric devices there may chance to he defects causing deviations of current that may lead to serious ronsequences. Children are even given electrical toys that operate by sectors and are quite capable of causing accidents.”

Low tension is not always a protection, Air Varigny tells us. Even a current _of 65 volts may be fatal, according to Zimmern. Wireless may add lo the risks of the lighting current. Ho relates ; “A London lady was listening in bed to a radio concert by means of earpieces, and at tho same time was reading through, steel-bowed spectacles. She was found dead, her spectacle bows molted. The inquest showed that she had boon shocked by the lamp currant, the radio wire having .served as earth, by way of tho spectacles. “It often happens that one person Buffers when another would have been safe under the same conditions. With a, dry skin a. contact may not be dangerous, while it would bo so with a moist skin, A callous hand may fool a shock when ono with a delicate skin may allow tho current to pass. A person standing on insulating material runs no risk, whereas one on moist ground or even wet concrete is in danger.

“Mental slates also play their part, according to .Mr Zin.meni." The psychic condition of the subject at the, moment of the. accident may have considerable importance, lie says. Attention plays a defensive role, and may weaktui tiio injurious effects of shock, or even annul it completely. Chi the contrary, surprise exerts an unfavourable influence. An unnoticed contact is more Clangorous than one that takes place with one’s knowledge. 'The failure of early penal electrocutions in America has been attributed to the fact that the condemned man was expecting the violent shock intended to end his life. This is interesting, but there are also cases where risk seems to be diminished' by inattention. Thus it would seem that sleep renders contact less dangerous, and it is hard to reconcile this with what has been said above.

“ Are there naturally resistant persons and others whoso resistance is

weak? This is possible, but wo certainly cannot yet differentiate between them.. . HOW SHOCK OPERATES. “ It is not easy to describe in exactly what manner electrocution kills. The mechanism seems variable. Often death is duo to the stoppage of resspiration, the victim is then simply ‘apparently dead,’ like a ' partially drowned man, and may be revived by artificial respiration. Actual death supervenes only from lack of proper treatment. “But there are cases? where the manner of death is quite otherwise, In some instances, with low-rtcnsion currents in particular, death appears due to asphyxiation resulting fromspasm of the respiratory muscles, and again, death may be due to heart failure. Very high-tension electricity often causes only an inhibition. And this explains why, since the introduction of penal electrocution where high tensions are employed, it has been thought expedient to follow the hightension shock with a low-tension one, to stop the heart action. Zimmorn asserts that a heart stopped by low tension may be started again by high, the latter having actually ■ a curative effect.” HOW TO GIVE ASSISTANCE. What is to bo done, thou, in'a'case' of electric shock? Cut tho connections, and don’t touch tho victim, to begin with. “It is important,” says Zimmeiu, “ not to try to assist a shocked person who is still in contact with tho current, unless precautions are taken to insulate oneself. If possible we may try to separate the victim from tho electric contact with, a pole of dry wood, 01 by using a dry rope.” Whenever it is easy to shut off the current, that is the first thing to do. To quote further;

“Where the contact is with a fallen wire we may remove the wire with a bit of dry wood or any other non-con-ducting body, avoiding contact with the earth by standing on an insulating device such' as a plank resting on empty bottles. Above all, look out for moisture—it is a conductor. The rescuer should insulate himself lest he become a second victim. In a factory or an electric station it is easy to provide the material and the means—all should bo at hand Elsewhere they must bo improvised, taking advantage of the circumstances and possibilities, and remembering that the essential thing is to insulate the rescuer so that he can be useful to the victim without himself incurring danger. “And afterward? Afterward, the victim should be treated like one rescued from drowning. The same care, the same methods, carried out with perseverance for a long time—for hours, if necessary. . “The method is'well known; artificial respiration is better than lingual traction. Schafer’s method is to be preferred to Sylvester’s. _ It is well known and need not be described here. In industrial centres, where electricity _ is produced and consumed in- quantity, and where risks are greater, also in hospitals and everywhere else wliare artificial respiration is in use, the automatic apparatus of Dr Panis is employed—a simple adaptation of the Schaefer method. Elsewhere, the public in general, and especially persons who mav bo present at electric accidents, should be familiar with this method, which must bo applied persistent] v for hours at fi, time. At this cost, many lives may be saved.”