Could getting a serious electric shock do something to someones brain?
The typical household electrical outlet is 110 volts. A shock from this lower current is more likely to cause heart fibrillation than from a higher voltage shock. Current pushed through the heart’s nerve centers causes a twitching state (“ventricular fibrillation”) in which no blood is circulated. The resulting lack of oxygen to the brain causes permanent damage in about four minutes and death in five to seven minutes. Thus…touching a “live” 110-volt conductor while at the same time touching a good path to ground (e.g., a water pipe or building steel) can allow amperage to fibrillate your heart. Such injury is probable if your body contacts (at the conductor and to ground) are firm and especially if they are wet. With dry conditions and poor contacts, your body resistance may be high enough to let you escape with only a “tingle” or a “jolt.” But either one is warning of a real hazard.
