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    Electrocution

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    RAHUL SINGH
    PRESENTATION ON EFFECT OF ELECTROCUTION ON HUMAN BODY

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    Electrocution

    Uploaded by

    RAHUL SINGH
    14 views19 pages
    PRESENTATION ON EFFECT OF ELECTROCUTION ON HUMAN BODY

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    electrocution

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    PRESENTATION ON EFFECT OF ELECTROCUTION ON HUMAN BODY

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    14 views19 pages

    Electrocution

    Uploaded by

    RAHUL SINGH
    PRESENTATION ON EFFECT OF ELECTROCUTION ON HUMAN BODY

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
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    Electrocution

    Definition
     Death caused by electrical shock ,
    either accidental or deliberate.
     Electric shock of a human body
    with any source of electricity that
    causes sufficient current through
    the skin, muscles or hair.
     Typically the expression is used to
    denote an unwanted exposure to
    electricity, hence the effects are
    considered undesirable.
     Electrocution may be due to :
    1) L o w v o l t a g e ( < 1 0 0 0 v o l t s )
    2) H i g h v o l t a g e ( > 1 0 0 0 v o l t s )
    3) L i g h t e n i n g ( u p t o 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 v o l t s )
    Mechanism of
    electrocution
     Death results due to:
    A. Direct effect of current on heart, causing ventricular fibrillation.
    B. Direct effect of the current on the respiratory muscles causing
    respiratory paralysis.
    C. Effect of current on the brainstem respiratory centers.

     Death may also occur due to:


    A. Thermal effects of the current
    B. Trauma caused by the current
    C. Drowning associated with exposure to electrical current.
    D. Multi organ failure due to current.
    Typical Findings

     Classical targetoid electrical burns


    o With central charring surrounded by
    pallor with presence of hyperemic rims.
    o Adjacent nodules of burnt keratin.

     Lightening victims present with


    o Typical fern like patterns known as Lichtenberg Figures
    Lichtenberg figures.
    Physics Behind
    Electrocution
    Factors affecting:

     Type of current (alternating or direct)


     Amount of current (Amperage)
     Potential difference (voltage)
     Resistance (ohms)
     Duration of events
     Route of current
    Type of current
     Alternative current is more dangerous than direct current.
     More likely to cause cardiac arrhythmias
     Tetanic spasms of muscles of hand, preventing the victim from releasing his/her
    grasp.
     4-6 times more likely to cause death.
    Amount of current

     Amperage of the current is the most important factor in electrocution.


     Relative to both potential difference (voltage) and resistance( ohms)

    V= IXR
    therefore,
    I∝V
    I ∝1/V
    Voltage
     Most deaths occur between 110 V to 380 V
     Electrocution is rare when voltage is less than 80 V.
     Deaths may occur at low voltage if humidity reduces resistance or if contact is
    prolonged.
     High voltage electrocution might occur by arcing.
     Arcs generate extremely high temperature up to 5000° C.
     Death maybe caused due to
     Direct effect of current
     Severe burn injuries
     Severe blunt traumas maybe produced when victim is flung or thrown from the
    conductor.
    Resistance
     Body tissues have variable resistance between 500 ohms and 1000
    ohms.
     Bones, fat and tendons have high resistance.
     Nerves, blood, mucous membranes and muscles have low resistance.
     Exposure of different parts of body to same voltage will produce
    different amperages.
     Skin has moderate resistance variable based on thickness and
    dampness.
     Very low resistance of moist mucous membranes
    predisposes children to accidental exposures causing
    severe oro-facial injuries.
    Route of current
     Passage of current through heart or
    brain increases mortality
     Current passes from point of contact to
    nearest earthed point.
     Most common route current passes is
    from hand to foot or hand to hand.
    Lightening
     Lightening is caused by atmospheric electricity
     Temperatures of up to 30000 c
     Current of up to 20000 A
     Potential difference of up to 100,000,000 V.

     Direct or indirect strike


     Side flash strike
     Step potential
     streamer
    Conclusion
     Team approach with a clear description of the death scene,
    including photographic documentation of the body, scene or any
    nearby electrical devices or conductors.
     A complete autopsy with careful examination of clothing and body
    surfaces for subtle electrical burns is required.
     Careful examination of all body surfaces including the flexor
    surfaces of the fingers, with photography and histological sampling
    of possible electrical burns is required.

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