A 37-year-old male patient presents to the emergency department after sustaining an electrical burn at a construction site. He complains of pain in his left arm where the contact occurred. During your assessment, you note an entry wound on the hand and an exit wound on the foot. What is the priority action in managing this patient?
Apply ice to the burn sites to reduce tissue damage.
Perform a thorough cardiovascular and neurological assessment.
The correct answer is to perform a thorough cardiovascular and neurological assessment. Electrical burns can cause significant internal damage, including arrhythmias and neurological impairments, which may not be immediately apparent. The assessment should include continuous cardiac monitoring, as arrhythmias are a common and potentially life-threatening complication. Administering fluids is important but secondary to ensuring that life-threatening complications are not present. Applying ice to burn sites is not recommended as it can cause further tissue damage.
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