Electricity is a part of all our lives. In order to have the the power needed to run our homes and businesses, high voltage transmission and distribution lines must be available to carry that power. In general, these power lines are safe, but we should still practice safety when we are near them.

Most of us do not give much thought to electricity and our dependence upon it, unless there is a power outage. Only then do we realize how many ways we use electricity and the extent to which we take for granted this energy. We also do not give much thought to the potential hazards associated with electricity. Electricity is safe if it is always treated with respect and handled properly. However, accidents can, and do, happen.

A few facts

No matter whether electricity comes from household circuits, transmission lines, or lightning, it seeks all paths to the ground. If you touch an energized wire while you touch the ground, you become part of an electrical circuit, and may be severely injured or killed.

Conductors vs. Insulators

Our bodies contain mostly water and minerals which are good conductors of electricity. Other examples of conductors are metal, wires, wood and rope.

Materials that do not allow electricity to flow or those which provide high resistance are called non-conductors or insulators. Examples of these are porcelain, glass, fibreglass, plastic and some rubber materials.

Rubber tires, especially if they are steel belted, may conduct electricity.

The Effects of Electrical Shock on the Body

Around 80% of the human body is water which is one of the best conductors of electricity. Electricity goes through you to reach the ground about as easily as it goes through a power line.

Your body's tolerance to electric shock depends on both the amount of current and how long it lasts.

Current that's strong enough to run just a 5 or 10 watt light bulb can kill you. Most people have felt momentary shocks but it's the prolonged shocks that are deadly. The longer you are exposed, the more deadly they are. Plugging yourself into a 110 volt line is like plugging a battery-operated radio into a nuclear power station: instant melt down.

Three main factors determine the severity of injuries caused by electric shock:

1. The strength of current.
2. How long the shock lasts.
3. Path to electrical current to ground.