How should you respond to an electrical shock if you’re trained?

• A. Do not touch the person if still connected; disconnect power or use a nonconductive object to separate contact; call emergency and perform CPR if trained.
• B. Touch the person immediately to help.
• C. Only call emergency; handle the patient.
• D. Wait for supervisor.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is to prioritize safety by stopping the electrical current before assisting the person. Do not touch someone who is still in contact with a live electrical source, because the current can pass through you as well.

If you’re trained, act to de-energize the circuit first. If you can safely reach and turn off the power at the breaker or unplug the device, do that. If you can’t reach the power source, use a nonconductive object—such as a dry wooden stick, a rubber mat, or something plastic—to separate the person from the live contact without grabbing them with your bare hands. This step is essential to prevent you from being shocked and to stop the current from flowing through the person’s body to you.

After the source is de-energized or the person is separated, call emergency services if that hasn’t been done yet. Then assess and treat: check for responsiveness and breathing, and if trained, begin CPR and use an AED as soon as it’s available.

This approach makes sense because removing the danger first protects you and the victim from ongoing electrical current, and it enables life-saving care to be delivered without exposing anyone to further harm. Other options neglect the critical safety need to disconnect power or use nonconductive distance, which can put you at risk and delay essential rescue actions.