An unexpected jolt through your body, commonly called a “shock,” involves the rapid transfer of electrical charge. While often benign in everyday encounters, the underlying mechanisms are frequently misunderstood. This article clarifies what happens during an electrical sensation, exploring the basic science, how your body reacts, and when medical attention is needed.
Understanding the Electric Jolt
The most common electric jolt comes from static electricity. This occurs when electrons transfer between objects through contact and separation, such as shuffling feet across a carpet, creating an imbalance of electric charges. One object becomes negatively charged, the other positively. This charge remains static until it finds a path to neutralize.
When a charged object, such as a person, approaches a conductor or an oppositely charged object, accumulated electrons can jump across the gap. This rapid movement, known as an electrostatic discharge, creates a tiny electric current, often visible as a spark and felt as a brief jolt. Although static shocks can involve very high voltage, the current flows for an extremely short duration, which is why they are typically harmless.
How Your Body Responds
When an electric current passes through the body, it interacts with the nervous system, which communicates using electrical signals. The external current can interfere with these internal electrical impulses, leading to various sensations. You might feel a tingling, buzzing, or a sudden jolt, as nerves react to this external electrical interference.
Muscles also respond to electrical stimulation. An electric shock can cause involuntary muscle contractions or spasms, strong enough to make a person jerk away. This involuntary muscle response is a direct result of the external current forcing muscles to contract, independent of the brain’s command. Even small currents can elicit these responses; as little as 0.2 to 2 milliamperes (mA) can cause an electrical sensation, and around 10 mA can lead to sustained muscle contraction where a person may be unable to let go.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While many electric jolts are minor, certain symptoms following a shock indicate a need for medical evaluation. If a shock results in noticeable burns on the skin, persistent pain, numbness, or tingling, medical attention is advisable.
Immediate emergency care is warranted for signs such as:
Confusion
Difficulty breathing
Irregular or rapid heartbeat
Muscle pain and contractions that linger
Seizures
Loss of consciousness
Internal injuries may not be outwardly visible, making a professional assessment important.
If someone experiences a high-voltage shock (e.g., from power lines or lightning), call emergency services immediately. While waiting for help, if safe to do so, turn off the source of electricity. Do not touch the person if they are still in contact with the electrical source. Use a dry, non-conductive object like wood or plastic to move the source away if power cannot be turned off. Consulting a healthcare professional is recommended after any shock to rule out unseen internal damage or delayed symptoms.