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Unit -2 Electric Shock

❖ Electric shock:
Electric shock is a sudden stimulation of the nervous system of the human
body by flow of electric current through a part of the body.
✓ Electric shock is a life-threatening situation.
✓ Shocks are caused by direct contact with live conductors or a flash over.

Resistance of human body paths:

Body path Resistance ,ohm

Dry skin 10 to 50 mega ohm
Wet skin 1000 ohm
Hand to foot internal excluding 500 to 600 ohm
skin
Ear to ear internal excluding skin 100 ohm

By ohm’s law ,

Ib = 𝑉𝑏
𝑅𝑏

Where,
Ib = Current through body
Vb = Voltage across the body
Rb = Body resistance
✓ In practice, currents of 10 mA and above are in shock range.
✓ Higher the voltage: More severe is the shock.
✓ Lower is the resistance: More severe is the shock.
✓ High voltage > 1 KV , Extra high voltage > 220 KV are more dangerous.
✓ Dry skin is much more safer than wet skin. Dry surroundings are safer
than wet surroundings. Skin perspiration has low resistance.
✓ Wet walls, wet insulations are dangerous.
✓ Ear to ear shock is most dangerous.
✓ Hand to foot shock is very dangerous.
✓ Shock not involving heart, brain & involving only remote skin is less
dangerous.
✓ Skin with cuts, wounds, bruises has low resistance.
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2.1 Possible damages due to electric shocks

The followings are possible damages due to electric shocks. These are:
1. Burns:
Heating due to resistance can cause extensive and deep burns. Voltage
levels of 500 to 1000 volts tends to cause internal burns due to the large
energy (which is proportional to the duration multiplied by the square of
the voltage divided by resistance) available from the source. Damage due
to current is through tissue heating. For most cases of high energy electrical
trauma, the joule heating in the deeper tissues along the extremity will
reach damaging temperatures in a few seconds.
2. Ventricular fibrillation:
A domestic power supply voltage (110 V or 230 V) ,50 or 60 Hz alternating
current (AC) through the chest for a fraction of a second may induce
ventricular fibrillation at currents as low as 30 mA. With direct current
(DC) ,300 to 500 mA is required. If the current has a direct path way to the
heart i.e. via a cardiac catheter or other kind of electrode, a much lower
current of less than 1mA (AC or DC) can cause fibrillation. If not
immediately treated by defibrillation, fibrillation is usually lethal because
all of the heart muscle fibers move independently instead of in the co-
ordinated pulses needed to pump blood and maintain circulation. Above
200 mA, muscles cannot move at all, but these conditions prevent
fibrillation.
3. Neurological effects:
Current can cause interference with nervous control, especially over the
heart and lungs. Repeated or severe electric shock which does not lead to
death has been shown to cause neuropathy. Recent research has found that
functional differences in neural activation during spatial working memory
and implicit learning oculomotor task have been identified in electrical
shock victims. When the current path is through the head, it appears that,
with sufficient current applied, loss of consciousness almost always occurs
swiftly.
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2.2 Reason behind electric shocks

We all use electricity in our homes for utilities and entertainment, but with
this comes the risk of electrical shock. The followings are causes for
electrical shock.
1) Faulty outlet/switch: -
When an outlet or switch is faulty or malfunctioning, electrical shock can
happen. Outlets and switches receive their electrical currents through a
box, further connected to wiring. If any screw or wiring is loosened on the
box, wiring or outlet/switch, electricity becomes unstable. This can lead to
electrical shock if you plug in an appliances or flip the light switch.

2) Outdated outlets: -
An outlet does not have to be damaged to emit electrical shock; it can
happen from just being old. Outdated outlets usually possess two prongs
instead of the now common three. Two prong outlets possess no ground
wire. Ground wire acts as an additional safety barrier in the case of an
unstable electrical current. Hence, two -prong outlets have no way to safety
channel unstable electricity. This increases the chances of shock.

3) Faulty appliances:
Faulty appliances do not always channel electricity as well as they used
too. And if you plug one in, you may receive electric shock. When an
appliance has damaged circuitry, frayed wiring or broken cords, electrical
currents become unstable. When you plug one in, the unstable electricity
can ruin your appliance as well as shock you.

4) Electricity touching water: -

When electricity encounters water, get away from it. Electricity and water
make a dangerous combination, as the water’s ions are extremely
conductive. This leads to electric shock.

5) Mishandling electricity: -
If you don’t treat electricity with caution in mind, you are at risk of
electrical shock.
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❖ Non-Linearity of Electrical Resistance of Human Body

A smurov (around 1915) and his followers did experiment on

determination of the electrical resistance of human body.
They concluded two points:

I. The resistance of the human body noticeably drops with an increase

in voltage.
II. The body resistance depends upon duration of the impressed
voltage, dropping with time.
The experiment carried by him (under similar value and position of
electrodes) is summarized in table shown below.
S.N. Duration of exposer Applied Voltage Hand to Hand
resistance
Ω
4
1 First 15 minutes 2V 16 X10
2 15-30 minutes 6V 4 X10 4
3 30-45 minutes 10 V 8 X104
4 45-60 minutes 2V 4 X 104

From the above table, first 3 attempts state that body resistance depends
on Voltage applied and drops with increment in the voltage. While from
attempt no. 1 & 4 ,it’s clear that the body resistance also varies with
duration of voltage exposer. Hence, in over all, it can be stated that body
resistance is non -linear and varies with both voltage and time.
❖ Effect of environmental factors on Electrical injuries &
Human body resistance.
The effect of surrounding medium on the outcome of the electrical injury
has been proven both by experiments with animals and by investigation of
electrical accidents. These are summarized below.
1. Elevated temperature is dangerous not only because a worker starts
perspiration due to which electrical resistance of his body drops apparently
any heat increase sensitivity to the electric current of the human body.

2. The excessive humidity produces nearly the same effect. It is true that the
excessive humidity of air decreases the resistance of the organism to the
electric current.
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3. Pressure of surrounding medium also influences the sensitivity to electric

current. It has been experimentally shown that a drop in the atmospheric
pressure increases the electrical hazards for the living organism.

4. The increased partial content of the oxygen in the air reduces sensitivity of
the organism to the electric current and, on the contrary, the reduced partial
content of oxygen increases the sensitivity.

❖ Effect of the state of affected organism: -

The effect of electric current also depends on the state of the affected
organism.

1. The industrial fatigue occurring by the end of the workday dulls the
alertness and not only increases the likely hood of injury but might
aggravate its consequences.

2. Any illness leading to the nervous exhaustion will no doubt aggravate the
injury.

3. Alcoholic intoxication also produces the same effect. It has been observed
that sensitivity of the organism to current effect may be changed by
application of different drugs.

❖ Severity of Electric Shock

Severity of electric shock depends on several factors including.
✓ Magnitude of current flowing through parts of the human body (milli-
amperes).
✓ Waveform of the current flowing through the body (DC or 50 Hz AC or
Impulse or high frequency).
✓ Rate of rise of currents flow (mA /ms).
✓ Path of current through human body (through heart/brain or not).
✓ Time duration of current flow through the body (milli seconds to few
seconds).
Other very important factors are: -
✓ Capability of the persons to withstand the effect of the shock, state of heart,
brain, previous experiences).
✓ Phase of heart cycles at the instant of the shock.
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✓ Whether body is thrown off by muscle reaction or gets attached by muscle

contraction/paralysis.
Conclusion:
The effect of electric shock depends upon the voltage, current and duration
and also the path of flow. Current through the heart is most dangerous.

2.4 Safe value of electric current and voltage through human

body
Dalziel and others have done extensive experimental work on animals and
observed the results of many accidents with human and have proposed that the
lower limit for “safe” currents for shocks lasting from 5 to few milliseconds
is given by
I = 0.116/ √𝑇
Where,
T = Actual time duration of current in seconds
This is illustrated in graph:

Let go level, shock -levels of currents of 50 Hz.

Current Levels (rms) 50 Hz Effect
0.1 to 0.25 mA Touch perception
0.3 to 1 mA Grip perception
2 to 3 mA Momentary shock and harmful reaction
3 to 4 mA Shock without grip for children (Let go
shock)
3 mA Dangerous situation (Boarder line)
4 to 10 mA Shock without grip for women (Let go
shock)
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10 to 15 mA Shock without grip for men (let go shock)

Below 10 milli-amp Mild sensation, but not painful.
10 mA to 15 mA Painful shock but muscles still in control
15 mA to 20 mA Muscle control affected
20 mA to 40 mA Muscle contraction, breathing affected
40 mA to 80 mA Rapid, Unco-ordinated series of
contractions of heart muscle causing
irregular heart beat
(Fibrillation & possible death)
Above 100 mA Severe burns, stoppage of hearts, Death
certain.

❖ As the resistance of the human body to power frequency currents is highly

variable depending on the areas of contacts skin surface dryness and the
actual voltage acting resistance from hand to hand or hand to foot ranges
from a few hundreds ohm with 200 volts applied to a few thousands of
ohms with 12 V applied.
Experimental evidence indicates that the voltage required to produce
various degrees of shock at 50 Hz is shown in table below.

Approximate threshold of shock voltages.

Minimum threshold of feelings 10-12 V

Minimum threshold of pain 15 V
Minimum threshold of severe pain 20 V
Minimum threshold of hold on 20-50 V
Minimum threshold of death 40-50 V
Rage for ventricular fibrillation 50-2000 V

But for DC not exceed 100 V.

2.5 First Aid for electric shock
The effects of electrical energy on the human body may include stoppage of
the respirator and or cardiac functions, burns or wounds caused by direct
contacts of an electrical conductor with the body, injuries caused by electric
arcs, and injuries incurred in falls or other reactions to electrical shocks. The
possibly severe effects of electric shocks on the cardiopulmonary system
makes it extremely important that emergency personnel well trained in the
properly procedures for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
respond to electric emergencies.
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The following life -support procedures are recommended for the rescue and
care of shock victims.
1. Remove the victim from the further danger (move only if necessary)
but “Do not endanger yourself”. This can be achieved by ;
a) De-energizing the equipment from the supply switch.
b) Cutting cable or wire to apparatus using a wooden -handle
(protect your eye against any flash).
c) Use of a dry stick, dry rope, leather belt, coat, blanket, or other
electrical non-conductor to move the victim away from
contact.
2. Ascertain whether the patient is breathing and whether the hearts is
still beating. If indications are favorable, keep the patient in reclining
comfortable position and loosen all clothing about the neck, chest and
abdomen. Protect from exposer to cold, covering with a blanket. Do
not leave the patient unattended.
3. If the patient’s condition persists, keep him moving about.
4. Do not give stimulants or opium derivatives. Send for medical
assistance at once.
5. If the victim is not breathing, utilize CPR at once.
6. If the heart has ceased breathing, have a qualified person administer
appropriate first Aid immediately.

In case of serious electric shock, the time for commencing first Aid
is the vital importance treatment is commenced within the first 3
minutes after the accidents, the chance of recover of the person is
enormously increased, compared to the case if First Aid is delayed
for 5 or more minutes. Therefore, regardless of any other
considerations, remember that when victim has received a severe
electrical shock, second count. The sooner you begin First Aid
measures, the better the chances of saving the victim.

Note: As electrical current can paralyze the nervous center of the brain
which controls breathing. Breathing is stopped. This leads to temporary
paralysis.
❖ Artificial respiration:

If the breathing is stopped, the artificial respiration should be applied

immediately to restore the normal breathing and prevent death. If
movement of chest and abdominal wall has stopped, the breathing has
stopped. By means of artificial respiration, the breathing is re-established.
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✓ First of all, clear the nose passage by pinching for a moment and
cleaning it by hand -kerchief.
✓ Remove foreign object if any.
✓ Remove artificial denture from mouth, mop -up secretions with
clean cloth.
Some of the methods of artificial respirations are:
I. Mouth to mouth method.
II. Mouth to nose method.
III. Use of artificial resuscitator.
IV. External cardiac massage.
V.CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
❖ Mouth to mouth method: -
In this method, the patient is laid on his back with his head slightly sloping
down. A pillow or rolled coat under his shoulders will help maintain proper
position. The head is tilted back so that the lower jaw of the victim is higher
than the upper jaw as shown in position (I) of fig.3.3

Fig.3.3 mouth to mouth method

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✓ Open the mouth of the patient.

✓ Take a deep breath and place your mouth over victim’s mouth making air
tight contact as shown in position (II) of fig.3.3 above.
✓ Pinch the patient’s nose with thumb and forefinger and blow into patient’s
mouth until his chest rises.
✓ Remove your mouth to enable him to exhale.
✓ The first 8 to 10 breaths should be as rapid as victim will respond.
✓ Thereafter rate should be slowed down to about 12 to 15 times a minute.
✓ Sometimes air is trapped in patient’s stomach which can be released by
applying pressure gently on the stomach when the victim is exhaling.

❖ Use of Artificial Resuscitator: -

Mechanical means of artificial respiration have been developed and are
recommended for use. Artificial Resuscitator shown in fig.3.4 below,
consists of a rubber balloon, a special valve and a mouth piece and tubing.
The mouth piece is cupped on the mouth of the patient for artificial
respiration. The balloon is deflated to pump air in the chest of the patient
during inhaling. Thereafter the balloon is released to get inflated from
atmospheric air entering via the valve. The patient exhales through his
nose. The balloon is deflated again. The process is repeated till normal
breathing is restored.

Fig.3.4
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❖ External cardiac massage: -

If the patient pulse is not felt, his/her heart has stopped. This means
circulation has stopped. Try to restore circulation quickly by external
cardiac massage.
✓ Lay the injured person on his back on a firm surface and knell at his side.
✓ Place the heel of one hand on the lower half of the injured person’s
stermum (breast bones).
✓ Place your other hand on the top of the first hand and exert downward
1
pressure till breast bones dip by 1 inches.
2
✓ Then quickly release the pressure.
✓ Repeat this cycle 60 times per minute.
2.6 Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
In as much as severe electric shock may cause a stoppage of breathing or
heart beat or a stoppage of both, under some unforeseeable circumstances,
a person’s life may be saved by timely execution of the following.
For applying cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) involves the following
three basic steps.
1) The most important factor for the successful resuscitation is immediate
opening of the airways. This can be accomplished easily and quickly by
tilting the victim’s head backward as far as possible. Sometimes this simple
maneuver is all that is required for breathing to resume spontaneously. To
perform the head tilt, the victim must be lying on his back. The rescuer
places one hand beneath the victim’s neck and the other hand on his
forehead. He then lifts the neck with one hand and tilts head backward by
pressure with his other hand on the forehead. This maneuver extends the
neck and lifts the tongue away from the back of the throat. Anatomical
obstruction of the airway caused by the tongue dropping against the back
of the throat thereby is relieved. The head must be maintained in this
position at all times see fig.2.6 (a) below.

Fig. 2.6 (a) Head tilt method of opening airway

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2) If the victim does not promptly resume adequate spontaneous breathing

after the airway is opened, artificial ventilation, sometimes called rescue
breathing must be started. Mouth to mouth breathing and mouth to nose
breathing are both types of artificial ventilation. See fig.2.6 (b)

Fig.2.6 (b) mouth to mouth resuscitation

Adequate ventilation is ensured on every breath by the rescuer:
a) Seeing the chest rise and fall.
b) Feeling in his own airway the resistance and compliance of the victim’s
lungs and they expand.
c) Hearing and feeling the air escape during exhalation. The initial ventilation
maneuver should be four quick, full breaths without allowing time for full
lung deflation between breaths see fig 2.6 (b).
• Opening the airway and performing artificial ventilation are
essentially the same for children as for adults. There are some
differences, however, for infants and small children, the rescuer
covers both the mouth and the nose of the child with his mouth and
uses small breaths with less volume to inflate the lungs once every
three seconds. The neck of an infant is so pliable (easily bent) that
forceful backward tilting of the head may obstruct breathing
passage. Therefore, the tilted position should not be exaggerated.
• Artificial ventilation frequently causes distension of the stomach.
This occurs most often in children, but it is not uncommon in adults.
It is mostly to occur when excessive pressure are used for inflation
or if the airway is obstructed.
3 Provide artificial circulation by use of external compression (heart
massage). The patient always must be in the horizontal position when
external cardiac compression is performed since, during cardiac arrest,
there is no blood flow to the brain when the body is in the vertical position,
ever during properly performed external cardiac compression. It is
imperative, therefore, to get the cardiac arrest victim into a horizontal
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position as quickly as possible in situations where he is vertical, such as in

a dental chair, trapped in a vehicle stricken on a telephone pole, while in a
stadium seat, or in any similar situation. Elevation of the lower extremities,
while keeping the rest of the body horizontal, may promed venous return
and augment artificial circulation during external cardiac compression. see
fig.2.6 (c)

Fig.2.6 (c) Two rescuer CPR

When there is only one rescuer, he must perform both artificial ventilation
and artificial circulation. This consists of two very quick lung inflations
after each 15 chest compressions. Because of the interruptions for lung
inflation, the single rescuer must perform each series of 15 chest
compressions at faster rate of 80 compressions per minute in order to
achieve an actual compression rate of 60 per minute. The two full lung
inflation must be delivered in rapid succession, with in a period of five to
six seconds, without allowing full exhalation between the breaths.
Note: CPR is most effective when started immediately after cardiac arrest. If
cardiac arrest has persisted for more than 10 minutes, cardiopulmonary
resuscitation is likely to restore the victim to his rearrest central nervous
system status.
2.7 Safety precautions and Regulations:
Insulation is one of the oldest and best methods of protection against shock.
Insulation of the conductor, insulation of the worker, or isolation of the
conductor can provide protection from shock. Any of these methods
however can fail. Therefore, continuous maintenance and checks become
essential. Different countries have set different National Standards for safety
and health ethics. Though the rules are different for local people and
electrical employee, here we are just listing some common precautions,
suggested from the different standards.
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1. Always switch off the main switch before replacing a blown fuse.
2. Always use correct size of fuse while replacing blown fuse.
3. Always maintain earth connections in satisfactory conditions. Safety
depends upon good earthing.
4. Beware of live wires or conductor bare or insulated.
5. Before replacing a lamp or handling a table fan be sure that the switch is in
“OFF” position.
6. Before switching “ON” current to any portable equipment, make sure that
it is properly earthed and insulation is sound.
7. Be sure that all the connections are tight.
8. Before working on inductive circuits or cables, discharge them (through
short circuit to earth).
9. Don’t forget to put on safety belt before starting work above ground level
or pole.
10.Never disconnect a plug point by pulling the flexible wires.
11.Never temper unnecessarily with any electrical apparatus, unless you are
authorized to handle it.
12.Never touch an overhead line unless you are sure that it is dead and
properly earthed.
13.Never temper with electric protective or inter-locking gearing unless you
are specially authorized for them, taking all precautions.
14.Never energize a line unless you are sure that all is clear and there is no
one working on that.
15.While handling any portable appliances (table fan etc) see that it is
disconnected from the supply, switching “OFF” may not be enough,
leakage of insulations can give you a serious shock.
16.While working on any motor/Generator (Rotating machines) make it sure
that no one can put it to “ON” position without your permission.
17.When cells are being charged in a room, always maintain good ventilation.
Never brings naked light near a battery.
18. Smoking is also prohibited in the battery room.
19.Rubber mats are placed in front of electrical panels and switch boards.
Etc.