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Review of the Literature

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Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Fire ((BRIEFSFIRE))

Abstract

Electrical hazards take a variety of forms and produce different types of injury. The National Safety Council reported in its 2014 edition of Injury Facts that there were 961 fatal injuries from 2008 through 2010 due to exposure to electric current, radiation, temperature, and pressure. While relatively uncommon, electrical injuries are noted for having the potential to be particularly debilitating, with a high morbidity and mortality (Koumbourlis 2002). The seriousness of electrical injuries stems in part from their ability to produce multisystem trauma and their association with a range of complications, including cardiopulmonary arrest, cardiac arrhythmia, hypoxia, renal failure, and sepsis (Cooper and Price 2002). Exposure to electricity may also produce long-term neurological and psychosocial effects and significantly influence the quality of life (Pliskin et al. 1994; Noble et al. 2006).

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Campbell, R.B., Dini, D.A. (2016). Review of the Literature. In: Occupational Injuries From Electrical Shock and Arc Flash Events. SpringerBriefs in Fire. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6508-3_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6508-3_1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-6507-6

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