People are surrounded by many dangers. One of the many threats we deal with every day is electricity. The outcome of a person's electric shock can vary from minor body reactions to extremely serious injuries that can lead to death.
The severity of damage depends not only on indicators of voltage. There are many different factors that influence the outcome of an electric shock. We will analyze them in more detail.
Type and frequency
Alternating and direct current affect the body in different ways. Let's consider in more detail.
Alternating current is a greater threat than direct current, but its danger begins to decline when the frequency reaches 1000 Hz. This is an amazing fact. Thus, alternating currents with frequencies of 100 Hz and 1000 Hz are equally hazardous. A constant one becomes a threat only when its voltage reaches 500 volts or more. Let’s explain.
Under ordinary conditions, the smallest direct current that can cause an organism's reaction is 5 mA, for an alternating one - 1 mA.
What values are dangerous? A threat to life is represented by an alternating current of 15 mA and a constant current of 60 mA. Under the influence of such frequencies on the human body, paralysis often occurs, at which it becomes impossible to tear yourself away from the electric wire. According to research, a shock with a frequency of from 100 to 250 mA can lead to death.
The level of electric shock can be detected by the response of the body. How? If you touch objects that are under direct current voltage, a person will be sharply thrown aside. This situation often leads to fractures and bruises. From the action of alternating current, the muscles of the parts of the body touching the wire begin to contract frantically. The victim cannot release the source on his own.
Voltage
A well-known factor affecting the outcome of electric shock is the magnitude of the voltage. Studies show that a value that is safe for humans, which can affect their bodies without a threat to life and health, does not exceed 30 volts. However, severe consequences can occur when the voltage is less than 15 volts. Cases are also known that during a shock with a voltage of a thousand volts, death did not occur. From this it follows that it is impossible to establish with certainty the safe limits of electrical voltage. Other factors influence the outcome. But we can say with confidence: the higher the voltage, the greater the danger it poses to life.
Types of lesions
The impact of current is divided into the following types:
- Mechanical Causes rupture and stratification of the walls of blood vessels, lungs, and muscle tissues.
- Thermal. Causes burns on parts of the body, fever in blood vessels, heart, brain and other organs.
- Biological With it, irritation occurs, and followed by excitation of muscle and nerve tissue. As a result of their involuntary contraction, cardiac arrest and respiratory arrest may occur.
- Electrolytic. It is able to decompose organic fluids and blood, which is the reason for the change in their characteristics.
These types of lesions are divided as a result of current exposure:
- Local electrical injuries are large local disturbances of body tissues caused by the action of an electric current or an electric arc.
- Electric burn. It is most often caused by short circuits in devices or when turning on circuit breakers that are under high load.
- Electrical signs are oval or round spots of a pale yellow or gray shade caused by a chemical or mixed action of current.
- Metallization of the skin is the result of exposure to an electric arc, when the smallest particles of molten metal penetrate the skin of a person.
- Electrophthalmia - occurs in humans as a result of exposure to an electric arc, which forms strong ultraviolet radiation. After 2-6 hours, the patient develops inflammation of the outer membranes of the eyes.
- Mechanical damage. Uncontrolled muscle contractions cause tears in the skin, blood vessels, nerve tissues, joint dislocations, and bone fractures.
- Electric shock - the excitation of tissues, as a result of which a convulsive reaction occurs. A person becomes inattentive, distracted, his memory weakens.
- Electric shock is a severe neuro-reflex reaction of the body that occurs as a result of a powerful electric current. As a result, there is a respiratory disorder, metabolic disorder, circulatory system dysfunction.
In addition, depending on the severity of a person’s condition, an electric shock is divided into four degrees:
I - convulsive muscle contraction, a person is conscious.
II - involuntary muscle contractions, the victim loses consciousness, cardiac and respiratory activity are preserved.
III - a person loses consciousness, the work of the heart and respiratory system is disrupted.
IV - there is a stop in breathing and circulation, there are no signs of life.
Current path
Under the influence of electricity on vulnerable parts of the body, a severe outcome of damage can occur even with a current of several milliamps. Such places are those zones through which the discharge can pass to the brain, heart and lung.
Therefore, the most dangerous places for electric current are the back, temple, palm, front of the legs, neck. These zones also have high electrical conductivity.
Duration
The period during which the body is exposed is an important factor affecting the outcome of electric shock. Over time, the discharge has an increasingly harmful effect on the cells: with every minute the number of diseased increases. The magnitude of the current increases over time, and the resistance of the body decreases, as the body heats up. Long exposure times, even at low current frequencies, can be fatal.
It is impossible to accurately name the maximum time of exposure to electricity on the body, which does not lead to serious consequences. It happens that even fractions of a second radically change a person’s life. Cases are also known that a greater amount of time (several seconds) of the flow of current through the body did not lead to death or serious consequences.
The resistance of the human body, mood
Information will not be complete if you do not consider the following outcome factor for electric shock. The resistance of the human body is constantly changing, and its value varies widely. Its value is also influenced by the humidity of the skin, the environment, the place of contact, clothing and even the mood of a person.
It has been proven that people who expect an electric shock are less likely to suffer the shock, unlike those who come across this unexpectedly. A person, knowing that he is in danger, works in a state of increased attention and knows what to expect. The most severe consequences of electric shock are suffered by those who did not assume that this could happen.
Individual characteristics of the body
It is noteworthy that women are much more difficult to tolerate electric shock than men. This is explained by the fact that they have more delicate skin and a thin horny layer through which current easily passes. Age also plays a role. Most often, electric current affects children and the elderly.
The outcome of a lesion from an electric current is affected by human health. As practice shows, people with a strong physical shape can tolerate an electric shock much better, but not so with those who have health problems.
An organism suffering from serious illnesses is highly susceptible to electricity. At workplaces associated with servicing power plants, there is a whole list that lists a number of diseases that prohibit access to work. Such diseases include tuberculosis, heart disease, and mental disorders.
The outcome of electric shock also aggravates the presence of alcohol in the blood.
First aid
If you are affected by an electric shock, you must provide medical care before the ambulance arrives or before you take it to a medical facility on your own.
First of all, it is necessary to free a person from the effects of electricity. To do this, there are certain security measures that must be followed.
If the victim is conscious, they need to be laid on a soft surface, not allowing them to move, and watch for pulse and breathing. A person who has lost consciousness needs to provide access to a stream of fresh air, having previously been laid in a horizontal position, put a cotton swab moistened with ammonia to his nose, periodically spray cold water on his face, and remove tight clothing.
If the victim does not feel the pulse, he does not breathe, there is no heartbeat, he must urgently receive artificial respiration and heart massage. All this is preferably carried out within five minutes after the incident. It would be a big mistake to consider a person dead and not help him. An electric shock often causes clinical death, in which you must act immediately to save a life.
In addition to the listed factors that determine the outcome of electric shock, there are many others. In order to protect yourself at least somehow, you need to know about it. It is also worth considering that not only one indicator can affect the severity of damage from electric shock. Factors affecting the outcome of a stroke are taken into account in the aggregate. Electricity is life threatening!