Dangers Of Electrocution

Receiving a shock from an electrical current—a process commonly known as electrocution—is a painful experience that sends a quick jolt through your body.

But while some individuals accept this as a possibility that may occur in everyday household or car maintenance, from fixing outlets to adjusting batteries to even plugging in appliances, it is important to realize that electrocution may be more dangerous than you think and might even have lasting consequences for you and your body.

Before you set aside your worries and take your chances with electricity, read on to discover why you should be careful to avoid a shock in your home.

Understand The Risks

Most individuals experience the feeling of small electrocution sometime in life, whether from accidentally touching a pair of prongs as they are inserted into an electrical outlet or from brushing past wires that were exposed in the air.

And while these events might have been incredibly painful and may have even left you on the ground for a few minutes, they are generally easy to recover from.

Of course, not everyone is so lucky, and some individuals experience severe electrocution throughout their entire bodies.

If the electrocution is not fatal, those exposed to an electrical current will often succumb to respiratory failure, experience complete muscular paralysis, and even display burns across their bodies.

Long-Term Effects

For those who experience more severe forms of electrical shock, the recovery process may be slightly painful, but is usually quick and can be accomplished within just a few days.

But while externally the victim may seem physically fit, the electrical current may have caused internal damage that manifests itself in other ways.

One of the most common problems that electrocution victims suffer from is eventual cognitive disabilities ranging from memory loss to psychological problems to decreased brain function.

Naturally, not everyone who suffers from electrocution will succumb to these disabilities, especially those who come in contact with a minor shock, but more severe cases can often lead to these long-term complications.

How To Avoid Electrocution

Though the problems associated with electrocution may be serious, avoiding it can be a simple process that requires only a small amount of patience and diligence when working around electricity.

Most importantly, if you have children in your home, install plastic outlet covers to help prevent you or the little ones from accidentally coming in contact with the electricity source.

Additionally, when performing any maintenance on appliances or electrical tools that you have around the house, make sure they are unplugged before you attempt to manipulate the parts on the inside.

Finally, when operating any appliances near a wet surface or a sink, such as a blow dryer or hair straightener, ensure that these devices are placed well away from the basin, and make sure that your hands are completely dried off before switching them on.

Taking these basic steps can keep you and your family safe inside of your home.

Getting electrocuted by any source of electricity—whether within your home or not—can be a painful experience that may have lasting complications.

To avoid this problem, make sure you understand the nature of electrocution and what you can do to prevent it, and rest easy that you and your family are safe and sound.