Factors Affecting Shock Severity

Factors Affecting Shock Severity

Not all Shocks to a Person are the Same The severity of an electrical shock depends on several key factors:

1. Voltage (V)
1. Higher voltage increases the ability of electricity to push current through the body.
2. BUT: even “low” voltage (120 V in the U.S./Canada) can be fatal under the right conditions.
2. Current (Amps)
1. Current, not voltage, is what actually harms the body.
2. As little as 30 milliamps (mA) can cause respiratory paralysis or fibrillation of the heart.
3. Most household and workplace circuits carry 15–30 amps — far more than enough to kill.
3. Pathway Through the Body
1. Hand-to-hand: current flows across the chest and heart (most dangerous).
2. Hand-to-foot: current passes through vital organs.
3. Head-to-foot: affects brain, heart, and lungs.
4. Duration of Contact
1. The longer current flows, the worse the injury.
2. Even a fraction of a second can be deadly if the pathway crosses the heart.
3. Current can “lock on” muscles, preventing a person from letting go.
5. Body Resistance
1. Dry skin = higher resistance (approx. 1,000–100,000 ohms).
2. Wet/sweaty skin = much lower resistance (approx. 300–1,000 ohms).
3. Lower resistance means more current flows, increasing danger.

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