ELECTRIC SHOCK HAZARD ANALYSIS

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GET ELECTRIC SHOCK?

Electric shock is the physical stimulation that occurs when electric current flows through the human body. The distribution of current flow through the body is a function of the resistance of the various paths through which the current flows. The final trauma associated with the electric shock is usually determined by the most critical path called the shock circuit. The symptoms may include a mild tingling sensation, violent muscle contractions, heart arrhythmia, or tissue damage.

Common effect are the following:

Burning.
Burns caused by electric current are almost always third-degree because the burning occurs from the inside of the body. This means that the growth centers are destroyed. Electric-current burns can be especially severe when they involve vital internal organs.

Cell Wall Damage.
Research funded by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has shown that cell death can result from the enlargement of cellular pores due to high-intensity electric fields. This research has been performed primarily by Dr. Raphael C. Lee and his colleagues at the University of Chicago. This trauma called electroporation allows ions to flow freely through the cell membranes, causing cell death.

HOW YOUR PHYSICAL CONDITION IS A FACTOR DURING ELECTRIC SHOCK

Physical Condition and Physical Response. 
The physical condition of the individual greatly influences the effects of current flow. A given amount of current flow will usually cause less trauma to a person in good physical condition.

Moreover, if the victim of the shock has any specific medical problems such as heart or lung ailments, these parts of the body will be severely affected by relatively low currents. A diseased heart, for example, is more likely to suffer ventricular fibrillation than a healthy heart.