A shock of 5 mA can cause injury through which mechanism?

A shock of 5 mA can cause injury through which mechanism?

• A. Ventricular fibrillation
• B. Involuntary movement
• C. Respiratory arrest
• D. Seizures

Answer: (B)

Low-level shocks mainly affect nerves and muscles. Five milliamps is enough to stimulate motor nerves, causing involuntary muscle contractions. Those contractions can grab or jerk the body and even make it hard to release a live conductor, which is a common way people get injured in electrical work. Higher currents or different paths through the body are typically needed to drive the heart into ventricular fibrillation or to stop breathing, so the primary injury mechanism at this level is involuntary movement.

Low-level shocks mainly affect nerves and muscles. Five milliamps is enough to stimulate motor nerves, causing involuntary muscle contractions. Those contractions can grab or jerk the body and even make it hard to release a live conductor, which is a common way people get injured in electrical work. Higher currents or different paths through the body are typically needed to drive the heart into ventricular fibrillation or to stop breathing, so the primary injury mechanism at this level is involuntary movement.