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What to do if…
you receive an electric shock and feel unwell or have burns

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Move away from the electrical source without touching damaged equipment, then call 999 now if you feel unwell. Any electrical burn needs assessment at A&E; ask someone to take you or call 999, and do not drive yourself.

Do not do these things

  • Do not touch the electrical source, damaged equipment, exposed wires, or water near electrical equipment.
  • Do not touch anyone who is still in contact with the electrical source.
  • Do not return to the source to test whether it is safe.
  • Do not approach overhead lines, railway power equipment, or another possible high-voltage source.
  • Do not drive yourself to A&E.
  • Do not put ice, creams, oils, butter, lotions, or sprays on a burn.
  • Do not pull away clothing or other material that is stuck to burnt skin.
  • Do not burst blisters or wrap a burn tightly.
  • Do not use the size of the visible mark to decide that the injury can be ignored.

What to do now

  1. Move to a safe place away from the electrical source. Switch off the power only if the switch is reachable without approaching damaged equipment, exposed wires, water, or another hazard.
  2. Call 999 now if you feel unwell after the shock. Also call immediately if you have collapsed, are not breathing normally, have chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, a seizure, confusion, reduced alertness, or worsening symptoms.
  3. Tell the call handler that electricity is involved. If the source may be high voltage, such as overhead lines or railway power equipment, stay well away and say what the source is.
  4. If you have an electrical burn but otherwise feel well, go to A&E now. Ask someone to take you or call 999 for an ambulance; do not drive yourself.
  5. Without delaying the emergency call or journey, cool the burn under cool or lukewarm running water for 20 to 30 minutes. Keep the rest of your body warm.
  6. Remove clothing and jewellery near the burn while cooling it, but leave anything stuck to the skin in place.
  7. After cooling, lay cling film loosely over the burn. If that is unavailable, use a clean, dry, non-fluffy dressing without wrapping it tightly.
  8. Ask someone to stay with you. Tell the medical team when the shock happened, the source if known, your symptoms, and whether you fell or lost consciousness. Bring your usual medicines or a medicines list if practical.

What can wait

You do not need to assess the burn’s depth, work out the voltage, decide whether there is lasting damage, repair or test the electrical source, establish blame, contact an insurer, or complete workplace paperwork before getting medical help.

Important reassurance

You are not expected to judge an electrical injury from how the skin looks. Seeking urgent assessment is appropriate, even when the visible burn appears small.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate safety, burn first aid, and obtaining urgent medical assessment. Treatment, recovery, equipment safety, workplace reporting, and later symptoms may require help from healthcare professionals or other specialists.

Important note

This is general first-aid information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for medical advice. Call 999 in an emergency and follow instructions from emergency or healthcare professionals.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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