66410 Elec Safety SMART subpage bnr 1970x220 trans

How Electricity Can Hurt You

Electricity Takes the Easiest Path to the Ground

Tip of weather vane against purple sky with lightning boltElectricity is always trying to get to the ground and takes shortcuts whenever it can. If something that conducts electricity gives electricity an easy path to the ground, electricity will take it!

Electricity Can Travel Through You

Illustration of lightning bolt next to stick figure with arms in airWater and metal are some of the best conductors for electricity. Because your body is mostly water, you are a great conductor, too! So if you touch an electric circuit and the ground at the same time, you will become electricity’s easiest path. Electricity will flow through you, and you could be seriously hurt or killed.


Electricity and Water: A Dangerous Combination

Hair dryer resting on bathroom sink ledgeWater is an excellent conductor. You can become electricity’s path to the ground if you are touching water that touches electricity. Electricity would travel through the water and through you to the ground.


Appliance Safety

Cord plugged in outlet with wires exposedAppliances have protective insulated cords and coverings to keep you from contacting the electricity inside.

It’s important to use appliances and cords the way they were designed to be used so you don’t damage the insulation or contact live electrical parts. Appliances have protective insulated cords and coverings to keep you from contacting the electricity inside. If the cord insulation or the appliance covering becomes damaged in any way, you are at risk of contacting a bare live wire, which could cause serious shock. So always report a damaged cord or appliance to an adult.

The Truth About Shock

Milliamp measurement chart for electric shockYou can never tell when contact with electricity will be fatal, but you can be sure it will always hurt. Electric shock can cause muscle spasms, weakness, shallow breathing, rapid pulse, severe burns, unconsciousness, or death.

In a shock incident, the path that electric current takes through the body gets very hot. Burns occur all along that path, including the places on the skin where the current enters and leaves the body. It’s not only giant power lines that can kill or injure you if you contact them. You can also be killed by a shock from an appliance or power cord in your home.

Birds & Power Lines




Try these exciting experiments:

Electricity & Water

Ben Franklin Was Lucky!

< Back to Electrical Safety-SMART!
Onward to the next section! >