Safer Electro Stim / Play |
Safer Electro Stim / Play
by Lady Robin
Page - 5
Circuit/outlet testers do NOT ‘protect’. They only enable you to check for correct wiring
and proper circuit operation. If the top indicator is lit the wiring is reversed and is
potentially DANGEROUS. If the second indicator is lit the outlet is off/dead. If the third
indicator is lit the ‘hot’ wire is reversed with the ground. This is EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS! If the fourth indicator is lit there is no ‘ground’, be extra careful, and if
the bottom is lit all is ‘ok’.
GFCI's (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) increase protection. Code now requires
GFCI's or circuits protected by GFCI breakers in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms,
garages, and outdoor receptacles. Don’t count on having GFCI protection where you
‘play’, purchase your own. DON’T CONFUSE ‘multiple outlet strips’ and/or ‘surge
protection’ devices with GFCIs! MOSs nor SPs protect against shock nor accidental
grounding! The outlet strips have a fuse or circuit breaker that reduces risk of
overheating/fire thus they may keep you from being ‘cooked’ / ‘fried’ but, you could be
dead all the same! Surge protectors help protect against ‘surges’, voltages above 137
-150 V (depending on design), to equipment/devices plugged into the surge suppressor
but, voltages as low as 45-90 volts can kill you! Unless the package clearly indicates
‘Provides GFCI protection’, don’t ‘think’ it will protect against shock from faults or
accidental grounding. All GFCIs have to have a ‘TEST’ button!
and proper circuit operation. If the top indicator is lit the wiring is reversed and is
potentially DANGEROUS. If the second indicator is lit the outlet is off/dead. If the third
indicator is lit the ‘hot’ wire is reversed with the ground. This is EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS! If the fourth indicator is lit there is no ‘ground’, be extra careful, and if
the bottom is lit all is ‘ok’.
GFCI's (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) increase protection. Code now requires
GFCI's or circuits protected by GFCI breakers in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms,
garages, and outdoor receptacles. Don’t count on having GFCI protection where you
‘play’, purchase your own. DON’T CONFUSE ‘multiple outlet strips’ and/or ‘surge
protection’ devices with GFCIs! MOSs nor SPs protect against shock nor accidental
grounding! The outlet strips have a fuse or circuit breaker that reduces risk of
overheating/fire thus they may keep you from being ‘cooked’ / ‘fried’ but, you could be
dead all the same! Surge protectors help protect against ‘surges’, voltages above 137
-150 V (depending on design), to equipment/devices plugged into the surge suppressor
but, voltages as low as 45-90 volts can kill you! Unless the package clearly indicates
‘Provides GFCI protection’, don’t ‘think’ it will protect against shock from faults or
accidental grounding. All GFCIs have to have a ‘TEST’ button!
GFCIs shut off (trip/activate) when there is a current imbalance/differential between the
‘hot’ and neutral conductor greater than .005 amp (5 milliamp). The principle is that if
there is an imbalance of more than 5 milliamp it may be flowing in an unintended maybe
a DANGEROUS path. GFCIs DO NOT prevent shock nor electrocution if current flow
on the ‘hot’ and ‘neutral’ conductors is equal. Thus, if you touch a bare ‘hot’ conductor
coming from a GFCI with one hand and touch a bare ‘neutral’ conductor with your other
hand, you’ll might DIE since current flow between the two wires would be equal! GFCI
wall receptacles (2 center) and breakers (R) can protect multiple receptacles in a
building. For maximum protection, carry a portable plug in GFCI (above L) with you!
They are far more affordable than hospitals and / or funerals. What is your or your
sub’s/bottom’s life worth?
AC devices connected to an ‘Isolation transformer’ are safer because the transformer's
120 V AC input (primary) is ‘isolated’ from the output (secondary). There is NO
physical/electrical connection between the primary and secondary. Isolation transformers
are usually more expensive than GFCIs, they are heavy, and like GFCIs, they do not
prevent shock/electrocution if a complete circuit occurs between the two secondary
outputs. The output is still 120 V AC and can kill! They prevent shock/injury/death
because their output is ‘isolated’ from the AC supply. They can be purchased complete
with power cord and polarized/grounded outlet etc.
Safety Tips
First, the level of sensation for any setting of an electro stim device is directly related to
size (surface area) of the electrodes on our skin. Larger electrodes say 2” X 3” provide a
LARGER contact area thus the stimulus/sensation is distributed. Smaller electrodes say
1” or smaller ‘focus’/concentrate the stimulus/sensation because the current is more
localized/concentrated in one spot. The smaller the contact area/point the stronger the
sensation.
Electro stim causes nerves to fire/trigger, the brain receives the signals and responds,
causing muscles to extend or retract. Be EXTRA CAUTIOUS when restraints are
used! Muscles and ligaments can be torn and bones even broken if a body part is
restrained and stimulated. Something must ‘give’. Be sure the person can’t fall or strike
a solid object! Stimulation can cause muscles to produce motion in unintended
directions. Unexpected movement(s) and loss of balance can result.
The risk of unintended discomfort and possible burning can be minimized with a ‘good’
electrical ‘connection’. ‘Good’ connections are made by contacting a large area and
using a conductive gel or moist/fresh electrodes.
‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’! Electro stim can, with planning,
precautions, and common sense, be as enjoyable and ‘safe’ as sky diving, scuba diving,
and mountain/rock climbing! ONE IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE between electro stim
and sky diving, scuba diving and mountain/rock climbing, usually you have a second or
two to to consider a solution or one or more option(s) before you get hurt / ‘die’. If you
fail to practice safety while doing electro stim your first mistake can be a last mistake!
Yes, CRP can revive the person and modern medical science can perform ‘miracles’ but,
even if no permanent damage/harm is done, mental and medical costs can be
devastating. To be safe, make no contact above the waist, keep electrodes as close
together as practical, if using AC operated devices be sure the building’s wiring and the
cord is ‘ok’. Use a GFCI!
‘hot’ and neutral conductor greater than .005 amp (5 milliamp). The principle is that if
there is an imbalance of more than 5 milliamp it may be flowing in an unintended maybe
a DANGEROUS path. GFCIs DO NOT prevent shock nor electrocution if current flow
on the ‘hot’ and ‘neutral’ conductors is equal. Thus, if you touch a bare ‘hot’ conductor
coming from a GFCI with one hand and touch a bare ‘neutral’ conductor with your other
hand, you’ll might DIE since current flow between the two wires would be equal! GFCI
wall receptacles (2 center) and breakers (R) can protect multiple receptacles in a
building. For maximum protection, carry a portable plug in GFCI (above L) with you!
They are far more affordable than hospitals and / or funerals. What is your or your
sub’s/bottom’s life worth?
AC devices connected to an ‘Isolation transformer’ are safer because the transformer's
120 V AC input (primary) is ‘isolated’ from the output (secondary). There is NO
physical/electrical connection between the primary and secondary. Isolation transformers
are usually more expensive than GFCIs, they are heavy, and like GFCIs, they do not
prevent shock/electrocution if a complete circuit occurs between the two secondary
outputs. The output is still 120 V AC and can kill! They prevent shock/injury/death
because their output is ‘isolated’ from the AC supply. They can be purchased complete
with power cord and polarized/grounded outlet etc.
Safety Tips
First, the level of sensation for any setting of an electro stim device is directly related to
size (surface area) of the electrodes on our skin. Larger electrodes say 2” X 3” provide a
LARGER contact area thus the stimulus/sensation is distributed. Smaller electrodes say
1” or smaller ‘focus’/concentrate the stimulus/sensation because the current is more
localized/concentrated in one spot. The smaller the contact area/point the stronger the
sensation.
Electro stim causes nerves to fire/trigger, the brain receives the signals and responds,
causing muscles to extend or retract. Be EXTRA CAUTIOUS when restraints are
used! Muscles and ligaments can be torn and bones even broken if a body part is
restrained and stimulated. Something must ‘give’. Be sure the person can’t fall or strike
a solid object! Stimulation can cause muscles to produce motion in unintended
directions. Unexpected movement(s) and loss of balance can result.
The risk of unintended discomfort and possible burning can be minimized with a ‘good’
electrical ‘connection’. ‘Good’ connections are made by contacting a large area and
using a conductive gel or moist/fresh electrodes.
‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’! Electro stim can, with planning,
precautions, and common sense, be as enjoyable and ‘safe’ as sky diving, scuba diving,
and mountain/rock climbing! ONE IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE between electro stim
and sky diving, scuba diving and mountain/rock climbing, usually you have a second or
two to to consider a solution or one or more option(s) before you get hurt / ‘die’. If you
fail to practice safety while doing electro stim your first mistake can be a last mistake!
Yes, CRP can revive the person and modern medical science can perform ‘miracles’ but,
even if no permanent damage/harm is done, mental and medical costs can be
devastating. To be safe, make no contact above the waist, keep electrodes as close
together as practical, if using AC operated devices be sure the building’s wiring and the
cord is ‘ok’. Use a GFCI!
