Diffuse Electrical Injury (DEI)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Sparktron01@xxxxxxxxxxx 

Terry, List Members

I receive EC&M (Electrical  Construction and Maintenance)
Magazine at work.  This month had a very compelling article
on DEI and the devastating effects it can have on quality of life.
This event appears to occur when LVAC (120V predominately)
causes a victim to get "HUNG UP" and can't let go or break the
current through their body. The victim is hung up in the current
path for periods of time ranging up to tens of seconds.

Damage and symptoms are wide ranging, and often in areas
of body that should not be in direct current path.  Some
preliminary modeling of current paths through tissues suggests
that the electrical current flows in areas that are/were completely
unexpected  (like the brain); the scenario mentioned above results
in long term disability for many folks.  The symptoms mentioned
in this article are present in multiple individuals recovering from
electrical trauma, so the medical community is taking more notice,
and more detailed study of the phenomenon has started.

The long term trauma is not much different then a lightning
strike or "mild brain trauma".  The moral is to AVOID electrical
shocks of ALL voltages. 120VAC shock does not have to be
lethal to completely destroy your quality of life.  See attached URL.

http://ecmweb.com/mag/electric_happens_electricity_doesnt/index.html

This article will make one think twice about letting the "skin effect
currents flow across one's body..."  from a TC or other HV
apparatus... much less a unintended 120VAC shock.

Be careful out there...

Regards
Dave Sharpe TCBOR/HEAS
Chesterfield, VA. USA