Electrical burns commonly involve burns where the current entered and exited the body, such as which locations?

Electrical burns commonly involve burns where the current entered and exited the body, such as which locations?

• A. Hands or feet
• B. Elbows and knees only
• C. Neck and wrists only
• D. Face only

Answer: (A)

Electrical burns happen where the current enters and exits the body as it travels through tissues. The most common pattern is entry at the hands and exit at the feet, because a person often touches a live conductor with a hand and completes the circuit by standing or stepping away, contacting the ground with a foot. This two-point burn pattern reflects the path the current takes through the body. Other options describe single sites or less typical pairings that don’t match the usual entry-exit path as clearly. Thus, burns commonly involve the hands and feet.

Electrical burns happen where the current enters and exits the body as it travels through tissues. The most common pattern is entry at the hands and exit at the feet, because a person often touches a live conductor with a hand and completes the circuit by standing or stepping away, contacting the ground with a foot. This two-point burn pattern reflects the path the current takes through the body. Other options describe single sites or less typical pairings that don’t match the usual entry-exit path as clearly. Thus, burns commonly involve the hands and feet.