• FridaG@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    Nah. Defibrillators use direct current. Unless they are covered in salt water, there is no reason for the electricity to go anywhere other than in a relatively straight line

    • Zoot@reddthat.com
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      7 months ago

      Electricity doesn’t immediately know where to go. It is true that it will always take the shortest path to ground, as soon as it finds that route. This is extremely simplified.

      • aubeynarf@lemmynsfw.com
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        7 months ago

        What? No. Electricity takes all conductive paths through a circuit simultaneously, with a current in inverse proportion to the path resistance. Ground means nothing unless it somehow makes up a part of the circuit - it is neither a “sink” nor “zero” for electricity. It’s just dirt.

        • Zoot@reddthat.com
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          7 months ago

          Electricity always needs somewhere to go. Generally you can refer to where it goes, as a “Ground” I said “This is extremely simplified” for a reason.

          I don’t actually understand what you’re trying to say, all I was saying is that Electricity is indeed going to take all possible paths, until it finds the one with the least resistance, which is what I believe you said just in a different way. You are a part of that circuit for a very miniscule, brief second, upon adding yourself (touch).

          • aubeynarf@lemmynsfw.com
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            7 months ago

            A battery (or transformer secondary) has two terminals - neither is “ground”, and electricity will flow between them if a circuit is formed.

            Often, one terminal of a battery or transformer is connected to a ground stake, so it’s possible for ground to become part of the circuit. But ground is not any kind of natural destination for electricity. (Other than lightning, which is a result of a charge forming between the earth and the clouds)

            it doesn’t “find” the path of least resistance. It takes (flows along) all possible paths simultaneously. If you connect two wires in parallel between the terminals of a battery, one of which is thick (resistance) and one of which is thin (high resistance), current will flow along both.

    • BoscoBear@lemmy.sdf.org
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      7 months ago

      If you have two resistors in parallel the current doesn’t just flow through one resistor. You will get shocked. That’s why you yell “clear” before juicing them.

      • FridaG@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        No. You yell clear before defibrillation because of hypothetical risk. The likelihood that a person actually received a significant shock is tremendously low, and even lower if they are wearing gloves.

        As a side note, you do not yell clear before juicing them. You charge the defibrillator while continuing to give cpr, and then once it is charged, you clear, analyse the rhythm, and if it is shockable, ensure everyone is clear and deliver the shock. This protocol is to minimise the amount of time the arrested patient goes without chest compressions.