Strange as it may seem, most fatal electrical shocks happen to people who should know better. Here are some electromedical facts that should make you think twice before taking chances.
It’s not the voltage but the current that kills. People have been killed by 100 volts AC in the home and with as little as 42 volts DC. The real measure of a shock’s intensity lies in the amount of current (in milliamperes) forced through the body. Any electrical device used on a house wiring circuit can, under certain conditions, transmit a fatal amount of current. It only takes a few milliampere to kill you.
Electrocutions happens when the body becomes a path for electrical current. Anytime this happens you really don’t know the damage it has caused till later. Some people seem fine moments after being electrocuted, but have died just moments later. For this reason: Respect all voltages – it’s not the voltage, but becoming a path for the current that does the damage. Never take chances – always seek professional advice when you deal with any electrical system.
