UFC 3-560-01
6 December 2006
Including change 1, 7 December 2006
Figure 1-2. Current Path Flow
Step Potential
Touch Potential
Touch/Step Potential
Touch/Step Potential
The current path will determine which tissues and organs will
be damaged or destroyed. The pathway is differentiated into three
groups: touch potential, step potential, and touch/step potential.
Table 1-1. Effect of 60-Hertz Current on Humans
Milliamperes
Effect
Women1
Men
Slight sensation on hand
0.4
0.3
1.1
0.7
Shock, not painful and muscular control not lost
1.8
1.2
Painful shock, painful but muscular control not lost
9
6
Painful and severe shock, muscular contractions,
23
15
breathing difficult
Ventricular fibrillation, threshold
75
75
Ventricular fibrillation, fatal (usually fatal for shock
235
235
duration of 5 seconds or longer)
Heart paralysis (no ventricular fibrillation), threshold
4,000
4,000
(usually not fatal; heart often restarts after short
shocks)
Tissue burning (usually not fatal unless vital organs
5,000
5,000
damaged)
1
The current values for women are lower because women typically have less body mass
than men.
1-6