Electric Shocks!

[oligopoly]

Following surgery, my girlfriend has metal screws in both of her legs. We were wondering what would happen in the event of her receiving an electrical shock?!

[pagey]

If she received an electric shock elsewhere on her body, there would be little difference. If the shock was to the metal pins (protruding?) then electricity will conduct better into the body, but as it is in her leg, will conduct to ground, leaving heart and brain pretty safe. Only one way to prove this theory though...

[oligopoly]

The screws are internal. So, worse case scenario of an electric shock to her legs? By the way, Pagey, my girlfriend (sat next to me) isnt too thrilled at your suggestion...!

[Thunderchild]

um bet she weren't I would have reported him for inhumanity hehe, very sorry for you hope you are ok even screwed up (no pun intended)

[gazzawazza]

I don't think it would make much difference, we're all conductors of electricity anyway.

[ugly_bob]

I think she'll be better off. If the elctricity conducts through the metal, she will not suffer any tissue damage that would have been caused had she not had the pins there.

Overall, though, I think it will make no discernable difference

[fo3nix]

Getting an electric shock with or without metal pins is a pretty bad thing to happen to you.

In any case, human skin and water are nothing like as good at conduction electricity as titanium is (I guess as the above says that they're made of this; its very strong and crucially doesn't react so is normally safe for people that can get rashes from other things). So any electricity going through the body will likely route towards the legs, but to be honest I think that'll be the worst of you worries if you get a fairly severe electric shock.

Whatever the case, don't let her worry about it. How often have you been electrocuted? I don't know the numbers, but I bet the chances of it are pretty slim. Plus you'll have other things to worry about, like getting thrown across the room. Pins or no pins, it's going to hurt.

[qapmoc]

The chances are that it will make do difference whatsoever to the effect of any electric shock she might receive, btw how many electric shocks per year does she normally get? The main point is that the danger lies in any current which passes through the chest in the area of the heart so the legs will not really affect this anyway.

Make sure that you home is protected by an RCD 30mA circuit breaker and you will not have to worry about this problem anyway.

Speaking as somebody who has had a fair numbers of electric shocks over the years, last one two weeks ago (minor ones obviously !) I can tell you that the ''get thrown across the room'' thing is only likely to happen if you grab a high voltage power line outside somewhere.

[fo3nix]

qapmoc: this is very true. as you say, unless she's an electrician or some occupation like that, then it's pretty unlikely she'll get a shock anyway.