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From: Martin Brown <'''newspam'''@nonad.co.uk>
Newsgroups: sci.electronics.design
Subject: Re: electrical deaths
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2024 12:14:08 +0000
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On 28/11/2024 11:15, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
> Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> 
>> On 27/11/2024 17:17, Cursitor Doom wrote:
>>> On Tue, 26 Nov 2024 22:14:56 -0500, Edward Rawde wrote:
>>>
>>>> "john larkin" <JL@gct.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:iv1dkj1d8qa5cvm4r5b7mbehcot0lnd057@4ax.com...
>>>>> https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Age-adjusted-mortality-rates-from-
>>> electrical-injuries-per-1-million-population-European_fig1_221916189
>>>>>
>>>>> The US (0.63 PPM) is probably low partly because we have mostly 120
>>>>> volt gadgets. I usually wire boxes hot, and get tickled now and then,
>>>>> no big deal.
>>>>>
>>>>> Some countries are astounding.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> 240V AC never did me any harm.
>>>>
>>>> I first remember it when I moved a lamp in the loft (attic) which my
>>>> father had left there with the base off with live contacts exposed.
>>>> It was unpleasant but not harmful. I only just manage to avoid putting
>>>> my foot through the ceiling.
>>>>
>>>> Later I was moving out of a flat (apartment) and we couldn't find the
>>>> keys to turn the power off.
>>>> The removal guys refused to disconnect the cooker (stove) live so I did
>>>> it for them.
>>>
>>> Same here. Having dry skin helps a lot. There are still two real dangers
>>> though: wetness in whatever form and accidentally poking your finger into
>>> a socket where there's a live strand sticking out which punctures your
>>> skin. That's when you can *really* get a belt!
>>
>> It can also get nasty when muscle goes into spasm and contracts a hand
>> or even just a finger round the conductor, so you can't get free easily.
> [...]
> 
> Something I was taught, which has beceome an ingrained habit, is to
> touch anything for the first time with the back of your hand or fingers;
> if it is 'live' you will jump away.

That is also fire training in a smoke filled space you walk forwards 
slowly when unable to see elbows out, forearms across and hands folded 
inwards. That way if you do touch a live wire hanging down the reflex 
thumps you in the chest but you don't end up permanently attached to it.

Waving your arms about there is a risk you will grab a live cable. 
People untrained tend to do this. The training setup only administers an 
annoying shock to remind people not to do it. Being in such dense though 
harmless smoke/fog is very disorienting.

One of my friends at university (at a top level institution) found 
himself holding a live plug a on Jesus lead left behind by a previous 
graduate student. The burns from that were horrific. Once attached you 
can't let go or move and burning human flesh doesn't smell good. He was 
probably only on for 30s before someone realised and disconnected him.

My only serious first aid at work was a US sparks being trained to 
install our 3 phase 240v instruments who checked for live the same way 
as he did in the US - lick fingers and touch. The resulting shock threw 
him up against a wall and knocked the life out of him for a while. He 
recovered after a cup of hot sweet tea and a couple of hours rest. Some 
impressive bruises resulted. Training was enhanced to prevent a 
recurrence. 240v is much more inclined to bite than 110v.

-- 
Martin Brown