Electric Shock 0001

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SEVEN FACTORS IN ELECTRIC SHOCK

1. Voltage. More danger at higher voltages, but 110 VAC can be


fatal. If current limited to less than one ma one
can tolerate many kilovolts.

2. Current. Minimum threshold is about 0.1 ma


1-5 ma involuntary electric shock response
> 5 ma gives sensation of pain
10 ma can tempararily paralyze the nervous system so
that a victim is unable to free oneself from the
source of the shock. Currents above 10 ma cause
burns in a relatively short time.

3. Resistance of the path. Voltage, current and resistance are


linked by Ohms Law. Thus if resistance of the path
is very high a sufficiently low current can flow so
that a victim might survive an electric shock of
several thousand volts. Resistance is concentrated
at the skin surface. Resistance of large area
contacts between the knee and leg can be as low as
600 ohms. Dry or caloused skin can have a
resistance of more than lOOK ohms. Resistance also
depends on the contact area. Resistance of sweaty
skin is much lower than dry skin due to the presence
of salt. A person standing with wet hands in a tub
or puddle of water can be killed by 110 VAC because
the path resistance is so much lower.

4. Path of Current. More than 10 ma through the heart can stop


heart action. More than 10 ma through the central
nervous system can stop breathing so that a person
suffocates without prompt artificial respiration.
10 ma through an arm or leg, however; is not fatal.

5. Duration of Contact. I2R X Time is ENERGY so that more damage


occurs the longer the contact. Once the skin is
broken (burnt) the resistance of the path drops
markedly so that current rises and burn damage
accelerates. A person must be freed, or the electric
power turhed off as soon as possible. Long contact
to electric shock can cause burn damage or permanent
damage to the central nervous system. 50 ma DC will
roast a standard hot dog in 5 minutes.

6. Physiological factors. A younger person has a better chance of


survival than than older person. One in better
health has an advantage over one in poorer health.
7. AC or DC. AC appears more dangerous since the alternating
current is more prone to kick the heart into a
uncontrolled heart-beat (fibrilation or heart-beat
race) which leads to death.

Several horror stories of electric shock: Kid in the tree on


Maple Street in Paxton grabbing a 2300 volt line. Kid survived,
but with extensive burn damge to his hands and the soles of his
feet. Required extensive skin grafting to replace damaged tissue.

The highschool kid on drugs who climbed up a high tension tower.


Survived but is permanently crippled and defaced by electric
burns.

The Graduate student in biology at Brown U. who was electrocuted


by a DC power supply he backed into in the laboratory. He did not
survive.

EE Prof during a lecture demonstration in AKl16 (1950's) came in


contact with 240 VAC and could not let go of the cables, but was
able to walk backward away from the power panel so that the
cables slipped through his immobilized hands and dropped to the
floor. Students were unaware the Prof had been shocked, and the
Prof too embarrassed to acknowledge the episode to his class.

People each year are killed by strikes of lightning.

FAMILIARITY BREEDS CARELESSNESS

Almost every year an electric power lineman (who work regularly


on live power lines) dies from electrocution.

FIRST AID IN CASE OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

1. TURN OFF THE POWER IF THIS IS POSIBLE.

2. IF THE VICTIM IS IMMOBILIZED USE SOMETHING THAT IS A GOOD


INSULATOR TO PUSH VICTIM FREE OF THE POWER SOURCE WITHOUT
JEPARDIZING YOUR OWN SAFETY.

3. IF THE VICTIM IS UNCONSCIOUS ADMINISTER ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION


UNTIL NORMAL BREATHING IS RESTORED. (IF EXTENSIVE NERVE DAMAGE HAS
OCCURRED THIS MAY TAKE HOURS). DELAY OR PREMATURE STOPPAGE OF
ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION WILL CAUSE DEATH BY SUFFOCATION. MAKE SURE
THE VICTIM'S THROAT PASSAGES ARE CLEAR FOR BREATHING.

4. GET SOMEONE TO CALL FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.

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