CURRENT AND THE HUMAN BODY

CURRENT AND THE HUMAN BODY

Human body tissues are good conductors of electricity, due to ions in solution in the body.

The body’s resistance varies from 100 to 500,000 , with average being about 100,000 .

Electrocution is caused by current, not voltage.

CURRENT EFFECT ON BODY

.001 A (1 mA) Can be felt

.005 A (5 mA) Painful

.010 A (10 mA)Involuntary muscle contractions (spasms)

.015 A (15 mA) Loss of muscle control

.070 A (70 mA)Serious disruption to heart

function; probably fatal if lasting more than 1 second

CURRENT AND THE HUMAN BODY

Current can only pass through your body if there is a potential difference between one part and another. Being grounded produces a potential difference and a path for the current to follow.

CURRENT AND THE HUMAN BODY

Fuses or Circuit Breakers are devices that open an electric circuit when too much current flows in it (10-30 A). They are not sensitive enough to protect the human body from shock.

CURRENT AND THE HUMAN BODY

Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupt (GFCI) Outlets open the circuit when the current to ground is around 5 mA, so they provide protection from shock. They are required where water and electricity are close together.