Quick answer
An electrical shock is the passage of electric current through the body, which can cause pain, muscle spasms, burns, heart rhythm problems and death, depending on the current, its path and how long it lasts.
Electrocution is death caused by an electric shock 4. Even shocks that look minor can injure the heart, muscles or brain, so medical care is advised after any significant shock 3.
Quick facts
The key facts about Electrical Shock, with sources:
- What decides severity
- Current, type (AC or DC), path, duration, resistance 1
- AC let-go current (70 kg adult)
- About 15 mA 2
- AC that can cause ventricular fibrillation
- 60 to 100 mA across the chest 2
- GFCI trip point
- About 6 mA 5
- U.S. deaths from high-voltage exposure
- About 400 a year 1
- First step if someone is shocked
- Do not touch them; cut power if safe; call 911 3
Key takeaways
- Current through the body, not voltage alone, decides how bad a shock is 1.
- As little as 60 to 100 mA of household AC across the chest can trigger a deadly heart rhythm 2.
- Never touch someone still in contact with a live source; cut the power or use a dry non-conducting object 3.
- Anyone with a significant shock should get medical care, even if they seem fine 3.
- GFCIs trip at about 6 mA and prevent many household shocks 5.
If someone is being shocked right now
Emergency steps
Do not touch the person with bare hands. If safe, unplug the cord or switch off the breaker. Call 911. If power cannot be shut off, move them away with a dry, non-conducting object such as a wooden broom.
Stay at least 20 feet away from anyone in contact with a high-voltage line until power is off. Start CPR if there is no pulse and you are trained 3.
What happens in a shock
Your body conducts electricity. When it becomes part of a circuit, current flows through skin, muscle, nerves and organs. Current makes heat, which burns tissue. It also disrupts the electrical signals that run your muscles and heart.
The Merck Manual lists the factors that decide severity: how much current, AC or DC, the path through the body, how long the contact lasts and the body's resistance 1. Wet skin has far lower resistance than dry skin, which is why water and electricity are so dangerous together.
Merck notes that a shock from a home outlet or small appliance is rarely serious, while high-voltage contact causes about 400 deaths a year in the United States 1. "Rarely" is not "never," which is why codes require shock protection near water.
How current harms the body
Muscle lock. AC at household frequency makes muscles contract over and over.
Above the "let-go" current, about 15 mA AC for an average 70 kg adult, you may not be able to release what you are holding 2.
Merck notes that AC is more dangerous than DC partly because of this continuing contraction 1.
Heart rhythm. Low-voltage 60 Hz AC that crosses the chest for even a fraction of a second can cause ventricular fibrillation at 60 to 100 mA. DC takes about 300 to 500 mA 2.
Burns. Current heats tissue along its path. Burns can be deep inside even when the skin looks only lightly marked 3.
Falls and trauma. Muscle spasms can throw a person or cause a fall from a ladder.
Types of electrical injury
| Type | What it is | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Low-voltage shock | Contact with 600 V or less, such as home circuits 4 | Often minor, but can still be fatal |
| High-voltage injury | Contact with or arcing from power lines and equipment | Severe internal damage likely 1 |
| Electrical burn | Burn from heat as current flows through the body 4 | May be deep and hidden |
| Arc flash burn | Burn from an electrical explosion near the person | See arc flash |
| Electrocution | Death from electric shock 4 | Covered in the next section |
| Lightning injury | Very high voltage, very short duration | Separate medical pattern 3 |
Electrocution: when a shock is fatal
Electrocution is death from an electric shock 4. People often say "electrocuted" for any shock, but the term means a fatal one. Most electrocutions follow the same chain: current crosses the heart and stops its normal rhythm, or high voltage causes massive internal injury.
At home, Merck names faulty appliances and accidental contact with household wiring as common causes 1, and CPSC singles out equipment used near water and power tools used outdoors 5. CPSC credits GFCIs with a large part in reducing electrocutions and says wider use could cut them further 5.
At work, OSHA lists contact with power lines, lack of ground-fault protection, missing ground paths, misused equipment and improper use of cords among the most frequent causes of electrical injury 6.
Electrocution redirects here
Electrocution is not a separate hazard. It is the fatal outcome of an electric shock, with the same causes and the same prevention: GFCIs, grounding, sound insulation and keeping clear of power lines.
Example: why wet hands matter
Ohm's law (current = voltage ÷ resistance) shows why the same 120 V outlet can be harmless or deadly. The resistance values are assumed round numbers for illustration only; real body resistance varies widely.
| Condition (assumed resistance) | Current at 120 V | Compared with Merck thresholds |
|---|---|---|
| Dry skin, high resistance (100,000 ohms) | 1.2 mA | Below the let-go level |
| Damp skin (10,000 ohms) | 12 mA | Near the 15 mA let-go level 2 |
| Wet skin, good ground contact (1,000 ohms) | 120 mA | Above the 60 to 100 mA range that can cause fibrillation 2 |
Current (A) = Voltage (V) ÷ Resistance (Ω)
Voltage- 120 V at a US household outlet
Resistance- Body plus contact resistance; drops sharply when skin is wet
Current- What actually injures; thresholds from the Merck Manual
Assumed resistances in the example are illustrative only.
Source: [2]
This is a teaching example, not a safety rating. The point is direction: as resistance falls, current rises, and the same outlet becomes far more dangerous. Codes put GFCIs near sinks, tubs and outdoor outlets for exactly this reason.
Where shocks happen at home
- Bathrooms and kitchens, near water 5.
- Outdoors with yard tools, pools and extension cords 5.
- Damaged cords, plugs and appliances.
- Outlets where children insert objects; see tamper-resistant receptacles.
- Ladders or tools touching overhead lines.
- During DIY electrical work; this is why we do not publish wiring instructions.
What protects people from shock
Layers work together. Insulation keeps current inside wires. Grounding gives fault current a path so breakers trip. GFCIs cut power when even a small leak to ground appears. OSHA lists insulation, guarding, grounding, protective devices and safe work practices as the solutions to electrical hazards 6.
Each layer covers a gap in another. A cracked cord defeats insulation, but a GFCI still trips. A missing ground defeats grounding, but a GFCI still trips. Each code cycle adds GFCI locations for the same reason.
What protection cannot do
A GFCI will not trip if current goes from hot to neutral through a person who is not touching ground. Breakers protect wires, not people, and trip far above dangerous body currents.
High-voltage lines are a different world. Merck notes that high voltage causes more severe injuries and is more likely to cause internal damage 1. MedlinePlus warns not to go within 20 feet of someone being shocked by high-voltage current until the power is off 3.
What drives the cost of shock prevention
We do not list prices. The main prevention costs are GFCI protection for wet and outdoor areas, replacing damaged outlets and cords, fixing missing grounds, and in older homes, rewiring. The number of circuits, access to wiring, panel compatibility and permits drive the total.
Medical costs after a shock are another matter entirely. Prevention is the cheapest option by far. Use the project cost tool to see what moves the price of safety upgrades.
First aid for electrical shock
From MedlinePlus guidance 3. Take a certified first aid and CPR class for hands-on training.
- Do not touch the person if they may still be in contact with the source.
- If safe, turn off power: unplug the cord, switch off the breaker or remove the fuse. Turning off the appliance alone may not stop the current.
- Call 911.
- If power cannot be shut off, push the person away with a dry non-conducting object, such as a broom or rubber mat.
- Check breathing and pulse. Start CPR if there is no pulse.
- Cool burns with running water; do not use ice, butter or ointments.
- Do not move the person's head or neck if a spinal injury is possible; stay with them until help arrives.
Preventing shocks at home
- Test GFCIs monthly with the TEST button 5.
- Replace damaged cords and plugs; do not tape them.
- Keep appliances away from tubs and sinks; do not use them when wet 3.
- Use child safety plugs in unused outlets where young children live 3; tamper-resistant receptacles are another option.
- Keep ladders and poles well away from overhead lines.
- Hire a licensed electrician for any wiring work.
Symptoms that need medical care
MedlinePlus lists these possible symptoms after an electrical injury. Call 911 whenever someone has been injured by electricity 3.
- Changes in alertness or confusion.
- Chest pain, irregular heartbeat or trouble breathing.
- Muscle pain, spasms, numbness or tingling.
- Headache, or problems with vision, hearing or swallowing.
- Burns, even small ones at entry or exit points.
- Seizures or loss of consciousness.
Rules aimed at preventing shock
NEC 2023 210.8 (NFPA 70, 2023 edition). Requires GFCI protection for personnel at listed dwelling locations, including kitchens, bathrooms, garages, outdoors and laundry areas 5 8. Applies to new installations where that edition is adopted; existing homes keep what they were built with until work triggers an update.
NEC GFCI history. GFCI rules began with underwater pool lighting in 1968 and spread to outdoor outlets (1973), bathrooms (1975), garages (1978), kitchens (1987) and more 5.
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.335(a)(1)(i). Employees in areas with potential electrical hazards must be provided with, and use, electrical protective equipment for the parts of the body to be protected 7.
OSHA electrical standards. Subpart S of 29 CFR 1910 for general industry and Subpart K of 1926 for construction cover workplace shock hazards 6.
Shock vs electrocution vs electrical burn vs arc flash
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Electrical shock | Current passes through the body |
| Electrocution | Death caused by electric shock 4 |
| Electrical burn | Burn from heat as current flows through tissue 4 |
| Arc flash | Electrical explosion; burns from heat and light, not current through the body |
| Ground fault | The circuit fault that often causes a shock |
Shock myths
- Myth It is the voltage that kills, not the current.
- Reality Current through the body causes harm; voltage pushes the current. Both matter, along with path and time 1.
- Myth A 120 V shock cannot kill.
- Reality Household AC across the chest at 60 to 100 mA can cause ventricular fibrillation 2.
- Myth If you feel fine after a shock, you are fine.
- Reality Internal injury can be hidden; get medical care after a significant shock 3.
- Myth Rubber gloves from the kitchen make wiring work safe.
- Reality They are not rated electrical PPE. Leave wiring to licensed electricians.
Shock protection rules vary by state edition
Where your home needs GFCI protection depends on the NEC edition your state or city enforces. Many states lag the latest edition by years, and some amend GFCI rules. Check your edition to see which outlets in a remodel must be protected.
What to do with this information
If anyone in your home has felt a tingle from a fixture, faucet or appliance, treat it as a warning and stop using that circuit until an electrician checks it. If outlets near water lack GFCI protection, have them updated.
Next step: run the electrical safety check, review our electrical safety guidance, and call an emergency electrician if a shock hazard is active.
Questions about Electrical Shock
What happens to your body when you get shocked?
Current flows through skin, muscle and organs. It can cause pain, muscle spasms, burns, numbness and heart rhythm problems. Severity depends on the current, AC or DC, the path, how long contact lasts and the body's resistance, according to the Merck Manual.
How much current can kill a person?
The Merck Manual says low-voltage 60 Hz AC crossing the chest for a fraction of a second can cause ventricular fibrillation at 60 to 100 mA. That is a tiny fraction of what a household breaker allows. A GFCI trips at about 6 mA to prevent this.
Should I go to the hospital after an electric shock?
Seek care after any significant shock, especially with chest pain, irregular heartbeat, confusion, burns, muscle pain or loss of consciousness. MedlinePlus advises calling 911 whenever someone is injured by electricity. Internal injuries can be hidden.
What is the difference between a shock and electrocution?
A shock is current passing through the body. Electrocution is death caused by an electric shock. People often say "electrocuted" for any shock, but the term properly means a fatal one.
What should you do if someone is being shocked?
Do not touch them. If safe, unplug the device or switch off the breaker, then call 911. If power cannot be cut, use a dry non-conducting object like a wooden broom to move them away. Stay 20 feet away from high-voltage contact until power is off.
Can a shock from an outlet hurt you?
Yes. Merck says shocks from home outlets are rarely serious, but household AC can still cause burns, falls and, if it crosses the chest with enough current, fatal heart rhythms. Wet skin and grounded surfaces raise the risk.
What are the delayed symptoms of electric shock?
Problems may show up after the event, including irregular heartbeat, muscle pain, numbness or tingling, headache, and burns that look worse over time. Seek medical care after a significant shock, even if you feel fine at first.
Why is AC more dangerous than DC?
Merck explains that AC causes continuing muscle contraction that can stop you from letting go, while DC tends to cause a single contraction that may throw you clear. AC also triggers ventricular fibrillation at much lower currents than DC.
How do GFCIs prevent shocks?
A GFCI compares current leaving on the hot wire with current returning on the neutral. If they differ by about 6 mA, current is leaking, possibly through a person, and the GFCI cuts power in a fraction of a second.
Why did I get a tingle from my faucet or tub?
A tingle can mean a ground fault: something live is leaking current into plumbing or a fixture. Stop using it, keep others away, switch off the suspected circuit if safe, and call a licensed electrician right away.
Sources
- Merck Manual Consumer Version, Electrical Injuries, retrieved .
- Merck Manual Professional Version, Electrical Injuries, retrieved .
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (U.S. National Library of Medicine), Electrical injury, retrieved .
- Columbia University EHS, Electrical Emergencies: First Aid, retrieved .
- U.S. CPSC, GFCI Fact Sheet (Publication 099), retrieved .
- OSHA, Electrical safety and health topic page, retrieved .
- OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.335 Safeguards for personnel protection, retrieved .
- Leviton Captain Code 2023, NEC 2023 210.8(A) GFCI requirements (quotes NFPA 70, 2023 edition), retrieved .
Expert review
Written by the HyreElectrical Research team. Not yet reviewed by an outside expert. We say so rather than imply a review that has not happened; see our editorial policy.
How the numbers were checked: Physiology and thresholds from the Merck Manual (consumer and professional); first aid and symptoms from MedlinePlus; definitions from Columbia EHS; GFCI facts from CPSC; workplace rules from OSHA. Read 10 October 2026. Held for review by a qualified medical or electrical reviewer before indexing.
Suggest a correction. We fix errors and say what changed.