Quick Summary: Electric shocks can cause a variety of symptoms depending on the severity and type of shock you experience, so understanding your risk and the potential outcomes is vital to staying safe.
An electric shock can be a mildly unpleasant sensation or a life-threatening emergency, depending on the strength of the electrical current and the duration of contact. Knowing how to prevent electric shocks is one of the primary components of electrical safety.
But what happens if you get an electric shock? What does it feel like, and will it leave any visible injuries? What kind of first aid or medical care is required?
Here’s what you need to know about electric shock, including what electrical injuries look like and whether an electric shock can kill you.
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What Is an Electric Shock?
An electric shock refers to the experience of an electric current traveling through the body. Living tissue contains water and is a natural conductor of electricity. In fact, our bodies generate about 100 watts of power at rest and use electricity to send signals to the heart and other vital organs.
An electric shock occurs when an external source of electricity, like a faulty power line or a lightning strike, comes into contact with a part of the body. A shock can cause severe burns at the point of entry and exit, but it can also cause internal damage.
The severity of damage depends on the type of current, the type of tissue that it passes through, and how long the contact with the current is sustained.
What Happens When Electricity Passes Through the Human Body?
When electricity enters the human body, it attempts to find its way back out. This often means passing through the feet into the ground. But if multiple parts of the body are in contact with the source of electricity, it can pass through the hands instead.
The path of the current flow through the body plays a key role in the severity of the electric shock injury. If the electrical current passes through the chest, for example, it can cause arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) and even cardiac arrest.
This is why it’s so important to wear protective gear like insulating gloves and boots when working with electrical systems.
What Does Electric Shock Feel Like?
In comic books, electric shocks are often depicted with a “Zap!” or “ Zzzt!” For the most part, that’s not far off from reality. A minor symptom of electric shock can feel like a poke, twinge, or pinch, which you’ll know if you’ve ever come into contact with static electricity. Most of us have experienced the symptoms of too much static electricity in the body, at least to a minor degree.
Small electric shocks may be so weak as to be imperceptible, while severe shocks can cause muscle spasms that make it hard to let go of the electrical source.
Meanwhile, people who have survived lightning strikes describe auditory sensations such as buzzing or humming, visual sensations such as a flash of light, and physical sensations like getting punched or kicked.
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How Do You Treat an Electric Shock?
If someone around you experiences an electric shock, call 911 and then take stock of the situation. If you touch the person without taking the right precautions, the shock can travel into your body, too.
Electric shock can cause loss of consciousness or make it difficult for the person to let go of the power source on their own. If the person is still touching an intact or frayed cord or an electrical appliance, turn off the power to the electrical outlet before approaching them.
Electrical energy can also travel through water and metal objects, so don’t approach those objects or the shock victim if there are wet areas on the floor. Use rubber gloves or wooden objects to push the objects away from the source of electricity if you can do so safely.
If the person is unconscious and you are certain you have eliminated risks to your own safety, you can attempt to administer first aid via cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while waiting for paramedics to arrive. However, do not attempt to remove any burned clothing from the injured person yourself.
How Much Voltage Is Dangerous?
A mild electric shock is one that doesn’t cause any major symptoms or tissue damage. In general, currents of less than 50 volts are unlikely to cause major damage or death, but even low-voltage electrical circuits can cause electric shock injuries.
The Merck Manual points out that a low-frequency alternating current may be more dangerous than a direct current because it “causes extended muscle contraction…which may freeze the hand to the current’s source and prolong exposure.”
Currents greater than 500 volts are considered to be high-voltage electrical energy and are more likely to cause electrical injuries like severe burns, internal injuries, respiratory arrest, and cardiac arrest.
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Should I Go to the Doctor After an Electrical Shock?
Whether you need to seek medical attention from a healthcare professional depends on the severity of the shock. If you have any electrocution symptoms, such as seizure, loss of consciousness, an irregular heartbeat, or erratic pulse, call 911 and go to the emergency department of your nearest hospital immediately.
If you don’t have electric shock symptoms but have underlying heart problems or are pregnant, you should see a doctor for tests, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG).
With a minor electric shock, a tingling sensation or other less serious effects may occur. These may not require medical attention and can be treated at home the same way you would treat minor superficial burns, such as using running water to cool the skin and covering the area with a sterile bandage. When in doubt, always seek medical care.
Why Do I Feel Electricity In My Hands?
If you feel electricity in your hands but haven’t experienced an electric shock or been in contact with electricity, you may be feeling neuropathic pain instead. This is when your nervous system produces a sensation that feels similar to an electric shock.
A number of conditions can cause this sensation, from anxiety disorders to traumatic nerve damage. In more serious cases, it can be a manifestation of Lhermitte’s sign. Consult with a doctor if you are in pain or discomfort.
Can an Electric Shock Damage Your Heart?
Yes, an electric shock can cause cardiac arrest, arrhythmia, ventricular fibrillation, and other issues. Heart damage may not be obvious right away, which is why it’s important to monitor anyone who has experienced a high voltage shock or even low voltage shocks for signs of heart trouble. If you see signs, seek emergency care and call 911.
Electric shocks are more likely to cause heart damage if the current passes through the chest (i.e., arm-to-arm or arm-to-foot rather than foot-to-foot).
Can an Electric Shock Damage Your Brain?
An electric shock can damage your brain, especially if the current passes directly through it. Symptoms of too much electricity in the brain can include headaches, memory loss, and confusion.
That’s not the only thing to look out for: You can also injure your brain if you hit your head during a convulsion or if blood flow to your brain is reduced.
Can You Talk While Being Electrocuted?
It is incredibly difficult to talk during an electric shock. That’s because the electrical current interrupts signals from your brain and nervous system. It may result in muscle spasms, and you won’t be able to control your mouth enough to communicate. The electrocuted person might be able to call for help once they let go of the electrical cord or device that’s connected to the current.
How Bad Is a 240-Volt Shock?
The severity of a 240-volt shock depends on several factors, including the type of current and how much resistance there is. According to the National Library of Medicine, the body’s primary source of resistance to electricity is the skin. Dry skin offers more protection than wet or damaged skin does.
A 240-volt shock may not feel any worse than a 120-volt shock, but either voltage can cause injury or death under certain circumstances. The severity of the shock is not determined by the voltage of an electrical circuit or electrical appliance.
Does Electric Shock Cause Death?
An electric shock can be fatal, but most people who receive an electric shock survive. The United States sees about 30,000 non-fatal shocks per year and 1,000 shock-related deaths, including 50-300 from lightning strikes.
Most deaths from electrocution occur in the workplace. Adolescents getting too close to high-voltage electrical equipment is the second-most cause of death by electrocution. Electric shock drownings can also occur, often at marinas and docks, when a typically low level of alternating current in the water enters a swimmer’s body, paralyzing them.
Does Electrocuted Mean Death?
Technically, “electrocuted” and “electrocution” refer to death from electrocution, but they may also be used to refer to someone seriously injured by electricity.
What Kills You, Voltage or Current?
Voltage measures the potential difference in energy between two points, while current measures the actual flow of energy. An electrical shock from static electricity can involve several thousand volts, but because there’s not enough of it to sustain a current, even high amounts of static electricity won’t kill you.
On the other hand, even a low-voltage power outlet can kill you if contact with wet skin or a metal object allows it to deliver a steady current. So while it’s technically the current that kills someone, a high-voltage power line has a higher potential to deliver a fatal current.
Is Death By Electrocution Painful?
Yes, death by electrocution is painful since the electric current produces involuntary muscle contractions, burns, and, ultimately, cardiac arrest.
Exactly how painful it is depends on how strong the current is and how quickly the person loses consciousness. If the current goes directly to the heart, it will be less painful than if it travels slowly through the body and damages muscle tissue.
Why Does a Person Die of Electric Shock?
The main cause of death due to electric shock is the disruption of the heartbeat. Some currents stop the heart entirely, while others cause it to beat in an irregular rhythm. Even if the heart doesn’t stop beating, the person could still die from other injuries, such as severe electrical burns or damage to other internal organs.
Electric Shock FAQs
What household situations most commonly lead to electric shock injuries?
The household situations that most commonly lead to electric shock injuries include using appliances near water, handling frayed cords, or touching faulty outlets. These situations expose you to live electrical current that can travel through your body.
How can GFCI/AFCI protection reduce electric-shock risk at home?
GFCI and AFCI protection reduces electric-shock risk by cutting power the moment they detect an unsafe ground fault or arc. This instant shutoff helps prevent shocks from escalating into injuries or fires.
What immediate steps should I take after a suspected electric shock?
The immediate steps you should take after a suspected electric shock are to move away from the power source, turn it off if possible, and avoid touching anyone who’s still in contact with electricity. Once you’re safe, seek medical care because internal injuries can occur even when symptoms seem mild.
Protect Yourself From Electric Shock
Electric shocks can be scary, but you can take precautions to reduce the risk of electrical injury around your home. Start by ensuring that all of your outlets have child safety covers and safety switches and that any extension cords and electrical appliances are put away when they are not in use.
If you plan to install new electrical appliances or devices in your home, such as an electrical vehicle charging station, hire a professional electrician to make sure it’s done right. Ask them to install safety switches, too.
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