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Each franchise is independently owned and operated Karen Timms Owner/Interior Decorator 519.941.8639 1.888.632.9529 www.decoratingden.com ktimms@sentex.ca ITS DONE, ITS FUN, ITS FABULOUS! Imagine Create Attain We Make It Happen SIGN UP ON OUR WEBSITE FOR YOUR FREE MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER I n t e r i o r s by Deco ra t ing Den 54 Mill St., Georgetown 905-873-8196 Parking on side off of Back Street 6 Home, Lawn and Energy, Wednesday, October 3, 2007 It's a fact: In Quc, more than50 per cent of a l l accidentswherein electricity is a causal fac- tor happen to the general public. It is impossible to foresee the conse- quences of these accidents. Sometimes, an electric accident will leave a tingling feeling in a limb; sometimes, the result is death. Never forget, appearances can be deceiving: even a low intensity current can cause major dam- age! Here are the four fac- tors that apply to al l electric accidents: Duration of the contact It's a fact: Depending on the length of time that contact is maintained, the heat produced by an electric current can reach up to 2,000C. I t has been observed that the duration of the con- tact is directly related to the severity of the accident. The reason for this is quite simple: As an electric current flows through the body, it triggers a contraction of muscles such that the victim cannot relax them. As a result, the victim can suffer serious conse- quences after only a fraction of a sec- ond. The pathway through the body chosen by the current It's a fact: An 80-mil l iampere current passing through the heart is enough to cause heart stoppage. This is a life and death situation, and is of the utmost impor- tance. Because the heart and brain are vital organs, an electric currant passing through either one of them will proba- bly be fatal. If the current affects only a foot, leg, hand or arm, the conse- quences will be less devastating, but may nevertheless lead to amputation of the member. Resistance It's a fact: Metals and water do not have the capability of resist ing an electric current. That means that they are inca- pable of s lowing or stopping the f low of electricity. In an electric accident, this lack of resistance can have decisive consequences. The consequences of an electric accident can be greatly reduced, as a function of the resistance level. For example, a person working in a dry environment, having no contact with a metallic surface, will present a higher level of resistance to an electric cur- rent. The intensity of the current It's a fact: if only one tenth of the currant flowing through a 100-watt light bulb passes through the heart for more than one second, the accident can be fatal. The intensity of the current can there- fore constitute a major element in the seriousness of the episode. Even though contact with a 120-volt electric circuit may have no repercussions on a person's body, one must always bear in mind the potential consequences of an electric current. News Canada The facts and consequences of electric shock accidents