Someone got an electric shock: what to do

Cut the power first. Then help.

The answer in 2 lines. Don't touch the person while they may still be in contact with the current: turn off the power at the breaker panel or unplug the appliance first. If you can't, push the source away with something dry that doesn't conduct, like a wooden broom handle, while standing on something dry. Call 911. If the person isn't breathing normally, start CPR and use an AED if one is nearby. If they're breathing but unresponsive, lay them on their side. Even if they seem fine, they should be checked by a doctor.

The first 3 steps

Turn off the power at the breaker panel or unplug the appliance, without touching the person.
Call 911 for any serious shock and follow the dispatcher's instructions.
Not breathing normally? Start CPR and use an AED if one is available, until help arrives.

Stop: danger

Never touch a person who may still be in contact with the current: you could be shocked too.
Downed power line, outdoor or high-voltage accident: stay far away, don't try anything, call 911. Wait for the utility to cut the power.
Water: don't step into water connected to the electrical source.

What to do, by situation

Still in contact with the current: cut the power, or push the source away with a dry, non-metal object while standing on something dry.
Awake and talking: keep them lying down and warm, call 911 or a doctor depending on how bad it looks, and don't let them brush it off.
Unresponsive but breathing normally: put them on their side (recovery position) and call 911.
Not breathing normally: call 911, start chest compressions, and use an AED as soon as it arrives.
Burns: cover with a sterile gauze or clean cloth; no blankets or towels that shed fibers.

What not to do

Pulling the person away with bare hands or with something metal or wet.
Letting them go home without medical advice because they "feel fine".
Plugging the appliance back in or resetting the breaker before you know what happened.
Putting ice, butter or ointment on electrical burns.

Why a medical check matters

Electric current can pass through the body and damage the heart, nerves and muscles, even when the skin burn looks small. Heart rhythm problems can show up later. That's why Mayo Clinic and the National Library of Medicine advise medical evaluation after a significant shock (Mayo Clinic, MedlinePlus).

If you're unsure whether to go to the ER, call 911 and describe what happened.

Good to know

Electrical burns are often deeper than they look.
GFCI outlets in kitchens, bathrooms, garages and outdoors cut power fast when current leaks: press TEST once a month.
Tamper-resistant outlets help protect young children from poking objects into slots.
A CPR class from the American Red Cross or a local fire department takes a few hours and can save a life.

In San Antonio, 8-year-old Leo pokes a hairpin into an outlet and gets a shock. His dad flips the main breaker, calls 911 and follows the dispatcher's advice. Leo is checked at the ER and is fine. That weekend, the family has tamper-resistant outlets installed.

A made-up story, for illustration.

Bobby

Sources, verification, confidence

Verified on October 18, 2026, for the United States. Confidence: high for the first-aid steps (cut power, call 911, CPR); medium for the advice on which cases need an ER visit, which only a doctor or 911 can judge. This guide describes common cases, not a diagnosis.