The first thing to do: don't become a second casualty

If someone's still in contact with a live electrical source, don't touch them directly, you risk becoming a second person in contact with the current. This is the single most important thing to get right in the first few seconds, before anything else. The priority is removing the power source, not physically pulling the person away from it.

How to safely cut power without touching the person

If you can reach the switchboard safely, switch off the main switch or the relevant circuit immediately. If the shock is coming from a specific appliance and it's safe to reach the plug without touching the person or any wet surface near them, unplugging it can also cut the source. If you can't safely isolate the power, don't attempt to move the person, wait for emergency services who have the training and equipment to do this safely.

Why you call 000 even if they seem okay

Electric shock can cause internal effects, particularly to the heart, that aren't visible from the outside and can develop after the initial incident. Call 000 immediately for any electric shock involving a person, regardless of how minor it seems at the time, and follow the instructions given by the emergency operator. This isn't a situation to assess yourself and decide it's fine.

What happens after the immediate emergency

Once emergency services are on their way or have arrived, don't use the affected circuit, appliance, or power point again until it's been properly checked. If you're trained in first aid and it's safe to do so, follow your training and the guidance of the emergency call operator while help is on the way. This article covers the electrical safety response, for first aid technique itself, current St John Ambulance or Australian Red Cross guidance is the right source to follow.

Why the cause still needs to be found

Once everyone's safe, the underlying fault that caused the shock still needs to be identified and fixed properly, not just avoided going forward. A faulty appliance, damaged wiring, or a failed safety switch that didn't do its job all need a proper assessment, since the same fault can cause the same outcome again if it's left unaddressed. If the safety switch itself is the concern, see our guide on safety switch faults.