Electrical Injury in Public Places:The Rerun Tragedy of Careless Use of Electricity

Introduction: Electrical injury is considered the most devastating type of burns. Electrical injury in public places can be an indicator of the level of safety in the use of electrical energy and its social reflection as a feeling of unsafety may be remarkable. This study was designed to investigate the pattern of electrical injury in public places in the northeast of Iran.Method: In this cross-sectional study all burn injuries admitted to all relevant inpatient wards (i.e. burn, cardiology, orthopedics, pediatrics) of Imam Reza Hospital in Mashhad (northeast of Iran) in years 2012-2017 were categorized based on the place of the accident. Then electrical injuries which occurred in public places were included in the study. Demographic data, information about electrical current, details of accident and outcome of patients were extracted from medical records and completed by phone interview.Results: Fifty out of 258 electrically injuries (19.4%) occurred in public places and more than one half (27, 54%) of them were by high voltage. Twenty-one patients (42%) were children. Climbing from utility poles or lamp posts (19, 38%) and problem in the wiring of electrical equipment (16, 32%) were the most common predisposing conditions. The most common aim of activities related to injury was children curiosity (15, 30%), illegal acts including wire rubbery and illegal power supply (11, 22%) and pigeon fencing (6, 12%). There was 6 death (12%) and 22 amputations.Conclusion: Safety of electrical distribution equipment is low and appropriate policies to avert easy access to overhead lines and periodical inspection of equipment about the safety of wiring can reduce the rate of electrical injury in public places.