Oklahoma Locksmith Practice Exam

What are the most common nonfatal injuries associated with electrical shock?

1. Fractures

2. Burns

3. Hyperthermia

4. Sprains

The correct answer is: Burns

Burns are indeed the most common nonfatal injuries associated with electrical shock. When a person comes into contact with an electrical source, the current passing through the body can generate heat, leading to thermal burns at the point of contact and sometimes along the path of the current. This is particularly true for high-voltage injuries, where the resistance of the skin can lead to significant heat generation, causing serious damage to tissues. While fractures, hyperthermia, and sprains can occur due to various accidents, they are not specifically associated with the physiological effects of electrical shock as burns are. Fractures may happen if a person falls or is thrown during an electrical accident, but they are not directly caused by the shock itself. Hyperthermia is related more to heat exposure than electrical shock injuries and sprains result from muscle or ligament stress or tearing, which is not a direct consequence of electrical exposure either. Thus, burns are the primary concern when discussing the injuries most often linked to electrical shocks.