People can be electrocuted when they touch high-tension wires that fall during a storm or are struck by lightning. Take care when rescuing someone who has been electrocuted so you do not become a victim as well. Do not remove the victim from the electric source until the power source has been shut off. If you can't turn off the source of current, use a board, wooden stick, rope or other non-insulating device to pull the victim away from the source of the electric current. Make sure your hands and feet are dry and you are standing on a dry surface.

SIGNS
Slight shocking sensations, muscle spasms, seizures, interrupted breathing, irregular heart beats, third degree burns (at the spots where the electricity enters and exits the body), unconsciousness.

FIRST AID
CALL IMMEDIATELY FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE!
While waiting for emergency assistance:
Check for heartbeat and breathing. Feel for a pulse along the neck, under the earlobe, on the chest or on the wrist. Watch the rise and fall of the chest to see if the person is breathing. If no heartbeat and no breathing, do CPR.
If there is a heartbeat, but no breathing, immediately start rescue breathing. Check for burns and treat as third degree burns.

LIGHTNING SAFETY TIPS
Outdoors is the most dangerous place to be during a lightning storm. When lightning is seen or thunder is heard, or when dark clouds are observed, quickly move indoors or into your vehicle and remain there until well after the lightning storm ends.

Be the lowest point. Lightning hits the tallest object. In the mountains if you are above treeline, you ARE the highest object around. Quickly get below treeline and get into a grove of small trees. Crouch down if you are in an exposed area.

If you can't get to a shelter, stay away from trees.

If there is no shelter, crouch in the open, with your head on your knees and lean up on the balls of your feet. Your path to ground is decreased and you are no longer as tall. If you lay on the ground you could be more severely shocked if lightning strikes near you.

Avoid leaning against vehicles. Get off bicycles and motorcycles.

Get out of the water. It's a great conducter of electricity. Stay off the beach and out of small boats or canoes. If caught in a boat, crouch down in the center of the boat away from metal hardware.

Avoid metal! Drop metal backpacks, stay away from clothes lines, fences, exposed sheds and electrically conductive elevated objects. Don't hold on to metal items such golf clubs, fishing rods, tennis rackets or tools. Large metal objects can conduct lightning. Small metal objects can cause burns.

Move away from a group of people. Stay several yards away from other people. Don't share a bleacher bench or huddle in a group.