What happens if you shock yourself with an outlet

If you or someone else has been shocked, you may not need emergency treatment, but you should still see a doctor as soon as possible.

Internal damage from electric shocks is often hard to detect without a thorough medical exam. Electric shocks can also cause compartment syndrome. This happens when muscle damage causes your limbs to swell. In turn, this can compress arteries, leading to serious health problems. Compartment syndrome might not be noticeable immediately after the shock, so keep an eye on your arms and legs following a shock. If you or someone else has been shocked, your immediate response can have a big impact on minimizing the effects of an electric shock.

If you receive an electric shock, it might be difficult for you to do anything. If someone else receives a shock, keep several things in mind to both help them and keep yourself safe:. For severe shocks, a doctor may recommend staying in the hospital for a day or two so they can monitor you for any heart issues or severe injuries. Some electric shocks can have a lasting impact on your health. For example, serious burns can leave permanent scars. Lightning and stun guns also can cause electrical shocks.

The shock can cause a burn where the current enters and leaves your body. The electricity may have injured blood vessels, nerves, and muscles.

The electricity also could have affected your heart and lungs. You might not see all the damage the shock caused for up to 10 days after the shock. Your doctor will tell you what to look for depending on the type of shock you got. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

Call anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:. Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if:. Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if you have any problems. Author: Healthwise Staff. Blahd Jr. Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional. Prevention Tip. Some of the after-effects of electric shock include headaches, unconsciousness, respiratory issues and muscle fatigue.

More serious effects include burns, hearing loss, brain damage and even death. Can you get electrocuted by sticking your finger in an outlet? Our bodies are excellent conductors of electricity so if you stick your finger in an outlet, you will get electrocuted. Can a plug socket shock kill you? Every year, over people seek treatment for shock-related after-effects and injuries. Unfortunately, not everyone is lucky enough to make it to the emergency room, dying from the incident before they get there.

How long do symptoms of electric shock last? Generally, the symptoms or after-effects of electric shock last according to the severity of the incident and where the electrical current went through.

Some shocks have long-lasting effects including pain, weakness, numbness and tingling in parts of the body. Cite This! Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references First aid for electric shock. American Institute for Preventive Medicine. Accessed Jan.

Electrical injuries. Merck Manual Professional Version. Electrical injury. Rochester, Minn. Kermott, CA, et al.