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Electrical Shock Injuries

An electrical shock can do far more damage inside the body than it shows on the skin. Never touch someone who is still in contact with the power, call 911 for any serious shock or lightning strike, and get checked even if the person seems fine.

Call 911 for an electrical injury. MedlinePlus advises calling 911 for anyone injured by electricity (MedlinePlus), and the American Burn Association says all electrical injuries need emergency care, even if the person seems fine (American Burn Association). Call right away for:

Don’t touch the person while they are still in contact with the source. If you can do it safely, turn off the power first — unplug the cord or switch off the circuit breaker or fuse; turning off the appliance may not be enough. Stay at least 20 feet (6 meters) away from anyone touching high-voltage lines until the power is off (MedlinePlus). Only the power company can shut off high-voltage lines (Merck Manual).

Once it is safe, check breathing and pulse, and start CPR if the person is unconscious with no pulse (MedlinePlus, Merck Manual). People struck by lightning don’t carry an electrical charge, so it is safe to touch them and start CPR straight away (CDC).

What is an electrical injury?

An electrical injury is damage to the skin or internal organs when electric current passes through the body. It can come from outlets, cords, faulty appliances or wiring, arcs from power lines, machinery at work, lightning, electrical weapons such as a Taser, and young children biting cords or poking metal objects into outlets (MedlinePlus).

Why it can be worse inside than it looks

The body conducts electricity well. Some electrical burns look minor while there is serious damage inside, especially to the heart, muscles or brain (MedlinePlus). The current creates heat that can harm deeper tissues, nerves and the heart even when the skin looks okay (American Burn Association), and wet or broken skin lets more current reach the inside (Merck Manual). How the skin looks does not predict how badly the inside is hurt (Merck Manual, professional).

What electricity does to the body

Problems that can show up later

Neurologic, psychological and physical problems may begin 1 to 5 or more years after the injury (Wesner & Hickie, 2013).

Our Anxiety and Depression guides may help. Guides on PTSD, Nerve Damage and Rapid Heartbeat are coming soon.

How common is it?

Each year in the U.S., accidental high-voltage exposure causes nearly 400 deaths and more than 30,000 nonfatal shock incidents, and electrical burns are about 5% of burn-unit admissions (Merck Manual, professional). The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 130 workers killed by exposure to electricity in 2024 and 142 in 2023 (BLS). Lightning killed 517 people in the U.S. from 2006 through 2025, and almost 90% of people struck survive (CDC).

Side by side

Six approaches compared

For every condition we look at the same six approaches: what each involves, what it typically costs, and what a patient can realistically expect.

ApproachWhat it involves Estimated costWhat to expect
Conventional medicine (AMA) Emergency evaluation with an ECG and heart monitoring when needed, blood and urine tests for muscle damage, burn and wound care, burn-center care for serious injuries, follow-up for the eyes and nerves, and rehabilitation and mental health support. Cost estimate being researched. A brief household shock with no symptoms often needs no tests. Serious injuries may need hospital or burn-center care, surgery and rehabilitation; nerve, memory, sleep or mood problems can appear months or years later.
Chiropractic No role in caring for an electrical injury. We found no studies. Not a treatment for electrical injury, so no cost is listed. Ordinary back or neck pain later can be cared for separately, but only after the medical team has ruled out fractures and spine or nerve injuries.
Acupuncture No role in emergency care. Some people try it later for long-lasting pain, alongside medical care. Cost estimate being researched. Little research for electrical injury — we found a single case report and no trials.
Herbal medicine No herb or supplement treats an electrical injury. No butter, oils or home remedies on burns. Not recommended, so no cost is listed. Some herbs interact with medicines, so tell your care team about anything you take.
Massage therapy Later, scar massage on fully healed skin and help with muscle tension, only with your medical or burn team’s OK. Cost estimate being researched. In burn survivors, scar massage may ease scar pain, itch and anxiety. No studies look at electrical injuries specifically.
MBHA Wellness Coach Recovery support (sleep, fear or flashbacks, returning to work), a home electrical safety check, child safety and lightning safety. MBHA coaching cost estimate being researched. Simple steps — GFCIs, outlet covers, safe cords, going indoors in storms — lower the risk. Coaching works alongside the care team, never instead of it.

Approach 1 of 6

Conventional medicine (AMA)

Start with safe first aid and call 911 (see First aid, step by step below). Care then depends on the type and strength of the current, how long the person was in contact, its path through the body, and their overall health (MedlinePlus).

1. Emergency evaluation and heart monitoring

Doctors check for heart and breathing problems, then examine the whole body for burns, fractures, dislocations and spinal injuries (Merck Manual, professional). An electrocardiogram (ECG) checks the heart rhythm. Someone with no symptoms and a normal examination, who is not pregnant, has no known heart problem and had only a brief household shock, usually needs no more tests (Merck Manual). People are kept in the hospital for 6 to 12 hours if the heartbeat or ECG is abnormal, there are heart symptoms such as chest pain, or there are other severe injuries — and in many cases if they are pregnant or have a heart problem (Merck Manual).

2. Tests and treatment for muscle damage

Doctors may order a blood count, heart enzyme tests and a urine test for myoglobin, a sign of muscle breakdown; brain scans may be needed if the person is not fully alert (Merck Manual, professional). Rhabdomyolysis is usually treated with large amounts of fluid through a vein (Merck Manual), and badly damaged muscle may need surgery (Merck Manual, professional).

3. Burn and wound care

Skin burns are treated with burn cream and sterile dressings, a tetanus shot is given if needed, and pain relief is chosen by the care team — we don’t list doses (Merck Manual). Serious burns may need wound care and surgery (American Burn Association). Children with lip burns from biting a cord should see a specialist experienced with these injuries (Merck Manual). See our Burns guide for more on burn care.

4. Burn-center referral

The American Burn Association’s guidelines, written for clinicians, recommend immediate consultation with a burn center, considering transfer, for all high-voltage (1,000 volts or more) and lightning injuries. For low-voltage injuries they recommend consultation and considering burn-center follow-up to screen for late symptoms and vision problems (ABA referral guidelines).

5. Follow-up for the eyes and nerves

Recovery may include heart monitoring and monitoring for nerve or organ damage (American Burn Association). Report any new blurry or cloudy vision, since cataracts can appear years later (Merck Manual), and any numbness, weakness, pain or memory problems. Lightning often perforates the eardrums (Merck Manual), so mention hearing changes too.

6. Rehabilitation and mental health

Physical therapy, counselors and survivor groups are part of recovery (American Burn Association). Research on rehabilitation after electrical injury is still mostly case reports, and a 2025 review called for team-based care covering physical, psychological and social needs (Zahir et al., 2025). Because sleep problems, anxiety, PTSD and depression are common, screening for mental health concerns is important (Radulovic et al., 2019).

What it costs

Emergency care, monitoring, burn-center care, surgery and rehabilitation: cost estimate being researched.

How well it works — what to expect

Household shocks are rarely serious; high-voltage injuries can be life-threatening (Merck Manual). Many people return to work and life with early treatment and ongoing care (American Burn Association): in one study, 61% of people injured at work went back to their old job and 19% could not return to any work (Radulovic et al., 2019).

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Approach 2 of 6

Chiropractic

Chiropractic care has no role in caring for an electrical or lightning injury. A search of the medical literature (October 2026) found no studies of chiropractic care or spinal manipulation for these injuries.

A strong shock can throw a person and break bones, including the spine (Merck Manual, professional). If you have back or neck pain later, make sure your medical team has checked for fractures and spine or nerve injuries first. Spinal manipulation often causes short-lived soreness or stiffness; serious problems are very rare but have been reported (NCCIH).

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Approach 3 of 6

Acupuncture

Acupuncture has no role in emergency care. There is little research for electrical injury: we found a single case report, in which one person with brain injury after electrical trauma improved during months of acupuncture; its authors say more research is needed (case report, 2023). One case cannot show that acupuncture caused the improvement.

Acupuncture may help some other kinds of pain, such as back, neck or knee pain (NCCIH), but whether it helps nerve pain after an electrical injury is unknown. If you try it, use it alongside medical care and choose a licensed practitioner who uses sterile, single-use needles; poor technique can cause infections or injury (NCCIH).

Find an acupuncturist in our directory

Approach 4 of 6

Herbal medicine

No herb or supplement treats an electrical injury or repairs hidden damage to the heart, muscles or nerves.

No home remedies on electrical burns. Don’t put ice, butter, ointments, medicines, fluffy cotton dressings or adhesive bandages on the burn (MedlinePlus); butter, oils and ointments trap heat (American Burn Association). Cover it with a clean, dry cloth and get emergency care (American Burn Association).

Some herbs interact with medicines — St. John’s wort, for example, has a high overall risk of drug interactions, including with some antidepressants (NCCIH). Tell your care team and pharmacist about every herb and supplement you take. We don’t list doses.

Approach 5 of 6

Massage therapy

Massage has no place in emergency care. Later, once your medical or burn team says it is safe, it may help with scars and muscle tension. Never massage open or unhealed skin.

No studies we found look at electrical injuries specifically; the evidence comes from burn scars. Massaging healed scars with lotion can make them less sensitive, ease itching and make stretching easier — gently while scars are fragile (MSKTC). A 2023 review of 7 studies (420 burn patients) found scar massage reduced pain, itch and anxiety (review, 2023). Massage is generally low risk, but rare serious problems such as nerve injury or blood clots have been reported (NCCIH), so tell your therapist about your injury and any numb areas.

Find a massage therapist in our directory

Approach 6 of 6

MBHA Wellness Coach

An MBHA Wellness Coach can support recovery and help lower the risk of another shock — always alongside the care team, never instead of it.

Recovery support

Home safety audit

The Consumer Product Safety Commission suggests checking your home’s electrical products every six months (CPSC). A coach can walk through it with you: GFCIs, cords, water and electricity, and outlet covers for children — see Preventing shocks at home and work below.

Lightning safety

“When thunder roars, go indoors” (National Weather Service). A coach can help families, teams and outdoor workers make a storm plan — see Lightning safety below.

Another approach

First aid, step by step

Your own safety comes first: many rescuers have been hurt by electricity while trying to free someone (Merck Manual).

Shock from household current or a machine

  1. Don’t touch the person while they are touching the source (MedlinePlus).
  2. Turn off the power if it is safe: unplug the cord, remove the fuse or switch off the circuit breaker (MedlinePlus).
  3. Call 911 (MedlinePlus).
  4. If the power can’t be turned off, push the person away with something dry that doesn’t conduct electricity, such as a broom, chair, rug or rubber doormat — never anything wet or metal — standing on something dry if you can (MedlinePlus).
  5. Check breathing and pulse; start CPR if there is no pulse (MedlinePlus).
  6. Burns: rinse with cool running water until the pain eases (MedlinePlus) and cover with a clean, dry cloth (American Burn Association).
  7. Stay with them. Don’t move them unless there is danger such as fire, and don’t move the head or neck if the spine may be hurt (MedlinePlus).

Power lines

Stay at least 20 feet away until the power is off (MedlinePlus), and report fallen lines to the utility company (American Red Cross). If a line falls on your vehicle, stay inside unless there is a fire; if you must get out, jump clear so you never touch the vehicle and the ground at once (MedlinePlus).

Lightning strike

It is safe to touch the person. Call 911 — a cell phone is safe to use in a storm — and start CPR if there is no pulse (CDC). Use an AED if one is available, and keep giving rescue breaths to someone who has a pulse but isn’t breathing (Merck Manual).

Another approach

When to get checked, even if the person seems fine

All electrical burns need medical evaluation, even if mild (American Burn Association), and if there is any doubt about how serious an electrical injury is, get medical help (Merck Manual). A doctor may decide no tests are needed after a brief household shock (Merck Manual), but that is the doctor’s call. Be sure to get checked if:

Later, see your doctor about new vision changes, numbness, pain, memory problems, poor sleep, low mood or anxiety (Wesner & Hickie, 2013).

Another approach

Lightning safety

“When thunder roars, go indoors.” No place outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area, and if you can hear thunder you are likely within striking distance (National Weather Service).

Another approach

Preventing shocks at home and work

At home

  • GFCIs. A ground fault circuit interrupter is an inexpensive device that cuts the power in a fraction of a second to prevent a severe shock (CPSC). The CPSC recommends them in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, unfinished basements, near laundry tubs and outdoors, and testing them monthly (CPSC).
  • Cords and plugs. Replace frayed or cracked cords, keep cords from under rugs and furniture, don’t use extension cords as permanent wiring, and never break off a plug’s ground pin (CPSC).
  • Water and electricity. Don’t use appliances while wet or while touching faucets or pipes (MedlinePlus). If an appliance gets wet, unplug it before touching it (CPSC).
  • Any shock is a warning. If an appliance gives you even a slight shock, switch it off at the breaker and have an electrician check it (CPSC).

For children

At work

  • Common causes of workplace electrical injuries include contact with power lines, missing ground-fault protection and misused extension cords (OSHA).
  • Only qualified workers should do electrical work, turning off and locking out circuits and checking the power is off; others should stay 10 feet from live parts (CDC/NIOSH). Never use poles or ladders near power lines (Merck Manual).

Member stories

Living with Electrical Shock Injuries? Share your experience

Real experiences help others choose. Tell us what you tried — conventional medicine, chiropractic, acupuncture, herbs, massage or coaching — what it cost and what changed.

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Sources

This page is for education only and is not medical advice. Costs are typical U.S. ranges and estimates; yours will depend on your provider, location and insurance. Talk with your doctor before starting, stopping or combining any treatment. In an emergency, call 911. See our disclaimer.

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