• Question: When someone dies because they've drowned and they get shocked by paddles wouldn't it kill them even more because they'd be electrocuted?

    Asked by bethisperfect to Charlotte, Dhvanil, Frank, Jim, Leila on 19 Mar 2013.
    • Photo: Leila Nichol

      Leila Nichol answered on 19 Mar 2013:

      The current used in the paddles are selected to induce a current back into your heart, essentially giving it a kick start. It’s not the same as being electrocuted by lightning or electric chair because it’s bursts of electricity flowing through the heart to try and get it beating again!

    • Photo: Jim O Doherty

      Jim O Doherty answered on 19 Mar 2013:

      You’re right in a way – the spots where the paddles are placed are usually wiped dry. If the patient is still in contact with water, they need to be removed completely otherwise you can electrocute them and anyone else in the water!

    • Photo: Dhvanil Karia

      Dhvanil Karia answered on 21 Mar 2013:

      The point here is when the patient is given defibrillation ( shock to the chest using pads) it is ensured that there is no electric circuit formed through the body of the patient. If this happens as Jim mentioned above the electricity will flow through the patient’s and may burn them. Also the self adhesive patch defibrillators are available now which are safer than older versions of the pads….

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