Ability to Survive an Electric Shock

The ability to survive an electric shock will depend on:

• The current is amperes: Anything above 25 mA(twenty five thousand of an amp) could be lethal.
• Length of contact time: (Speed of action of fuse or circuit breaker).
• The path through the body: The two most common paths are hand to foot and hand to hand.
• The conductivity / resistance of the body: This varies among individuals and circumstances e.g. sweating will increase conductivity of the skin.
• The voltage: The higher the voltage the easier it is for the current to overcome the resistance. Voltages below 50V and preferably below 25V are preferred.
• The conductivity of  the environment: A shock received in a wet area would probably be more severe than in a dry area.
• The nature of the contact: A small contact area will tend to resist flow whist full hand contact can lead to lock-­on which means the hand is unable to let go.
• Age and health status of victim.

In the event of some receiving an electric shock the following points should be observed:

• Do not touch injured person until the current is switched off.
• If the current cannot be switched off stand on some dry insulating material and use a wooden or plastic implement to remove the injured person from the electrical source.
• If breathing has stopped give mouth to mouth resuscitation.
• Ensure professional help has been called for.

Common causes of electric shock include:

• Work on electrical circuits by unqualified persons.
• Work on live circuits.
• Replacement of fuses and light bulbs on supposedly dead circuits.
• Working on de-­energised circuits that accidentally become re-­energized.
• Using electrical equipment in a wet Environment.
• Faults in electrical systems, which energize parts that are not normally conductors, for example, the casing of electrical equipment.

HEALTH EFFECTS

The various health effects of electric shock include: damage to nervous system; irregular heartbeat (fibrillation); internal burns; muscular contractions; physical trauma; stopping breathing (respiratory paralysis); stopping the heart (cardiac arrest); and surface burns to the skin.

Such health effects may be so severe that they ultimately result in death. They may also result in secondary effects such as being thrown off a ladder.

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