How Do Stun Guns Affect the Human Body?
The human body is made from just under 70% water. This means that our frames are capable of conducting electricity if we are ever exposed to it – and it’s this weakness that makes the concept of stun guns such a potent defensive weapon to those that may need to use them. In the past, stun guns and tazers were predominantly utilized by the police whenever they found themselves in need of a weapon capable of causing immediate pain, but without posing a major risk to life.
How do stun guns affect the human body?
Modern (and traditional) stun guns possess an internal composition whereby a coil can be charged with electricity and then passed along metallic prongs that run through the centre of the device. Although the current will be present along the entire of the weapon, the main construction will ensure that the voltage is properly encased.
At the tip of the device is where the main point of contact will occur – and this is where stun guns can take a toll on the human body.
As the prong (or prongs) will be exposed, they will be able to emit the entire voltage from the internal components and direct the flow of electricity into a person’s body. This current can have an immediate and devastating effect, often able to render a grown man motionless, or force an attacked to submit as the current pulsates throughout their body.
How does the electricity affect the human body?
As the human body contains vast volumes of water and liquid, the electrical current can travel throughout it with little to no difficulty. The greater the voltage, the stronger the effects of the shock. As most will devices will emit roughly 50,000 volts (enough to instantly shock a person painfully), they can be safe to use temporarily, but if held to a person’s body they can be fatal.
As the electricity enters a target’s body, it will travel along their muscles and within their blood. The pressure from the voltage can cause muscles to spasm, which can lead to a loss of control. As the muscles spasm painfully, any attacker will be rendered unable to move – and depending on the power of the voltage, they may be unable to move for anywhere up to a few moments (more than enough time for the police to arrive).
Although some stun guns are designed to pulsate a voltage for anywhere between 3 and 12 seconds, most are set to emit an instant level of voltage that can cause immediate pain. Furthermore, if the device needs to be used again and again during the same incident, the electricity will act to weaken the target’s muscles until they can no longer move for a small amount of time; even after the current has left their body.
