• Turn off and stay away from the electrical source.
• Remove rings/watch if the hand is swelling.
• Do not put ice directly on the skin or keep icing a numb area, because it can cause cold injury without being felt. Use a clean, dry dressing over any burn.
• Do not massage/rub hard, and do not drive if dizzy or weak.
• Keep the hand elevated gently, but do not tightly wrap it.

• Use a wrapped cool pack for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, not directly on skin.
• Remove rings.
• Keep the hand elevated and avoid using the finger.
• Do not tightly tape or wrap it while numbness is present.

Check circulation: compare both hands

1. Color: Compare the injured hand/fingers with the other hand. They should be similar pink/skin color, not white, blue, grey, or unusually red.
2. Warmth: Use the back of your hand to compare both hands. The injured hand should not be much colder.
3. Capillary refill: Press the nail of the little finger or another finger until it turns pale, then release. Normal color should return within about 2 to 3 seconds. Compare with the other hand.
4. Swelling: Look for increasing swelling, tight/shiny skin, or rings becoming tight. Remove rings now if present.

Check movement

• Open the hand and spread fingers apart.
• Make a loose fist.
• Bend and straighten the little finger.
• Touch the thumb to the tip of each finger.
• Lift the wrist slightly up and then down.

Seek emergency care immediately if

• Fingers or hand become pale, blue, cold, or increasingly swollen
• Color takes more than 3 seconds to return after pressing the nail
• He cannot move fingers/wrist normally
• Numbness is continuing, spreading, or worsening
• Severe pain, a deformed little finger, burn marks, chest pain, palpitations, fainting, or breathing trouble

First aid now

1. Make sure electricity is fully off. Do not touch him if there is any chance he is still connected to power. Turn off/unplug at the source or breaker first.
2. Get urgent medical assessment today. Reduced sensation after an electric shock needs examination, even if the hand looks normal. The fall and painful little finger may also need an X-ray.
3. Remove rings, watch, or tight items from that hand now, before swelling starts.
4. Rest and protect the hand.
   • Keep it raised on pillows, roughly above heart level.
   • Do not use the painful little finger.
   • Do not force movements, massage it, tightly bandage it, or try to straighten it.
5. For little-finger pain: apply a cool pack wrapped in cloth for 15 to 20 minutes. Do not apply ice directly to skin. Because sensation is reduced, check the skin every few minutes and stop if it becomes very pale, painful, or overly cold.
6. No hot packs on the numb area. He may burn the skin without realizing it.
7. If there is a burn: cool it under cool running water for 20 minutes, then loosely cover with clean non-fluffy cloth or sterile gauze. Do not use ice, ointments, creams, adhesive dressings, or pop blisters. MedlinePlus burn first aid
8. Monitor while arranging care. Compare both hands for color and warmth. If the hand/fingers become pale, blue, cold, increasingly swollen, or hard to move, seek emergency help immediately.

Call emergency services now if he has

• Chest pain, fast/irregular heartbeat, fainting, confusion, seizure, or trouble breathing
• Increasing numbness or weakness
• A cold, pale, or blue hand
• Severe pain, major swelling, a crooked finger, or an obvious burn
• A high-voltage shock, lightning injury, or loss of consciousness at any point

• Rest and elevation of the hand
• For the painful little finger only, a cool pack wrapped in cloth for 10 to 15 minutes, with someone checking the skin often
• Keep the finger protected and do not force it to move