What is the major cause of death from electrical shock?

The major cause of death from electrical shock is heart fibrillation. When an electrical current passes through the body, it can disrupt the normal electrical signals that regulate the heartbeat. This can lead to ventricular fibrillation, a condition where the heart's electrical activity becomes chaotic, preventing it from pumping blood effectively. As a result, vital organs, including the brain, do not receive the oxygen and nutrients they need, which can ultimately lead to death if not quickly addressed.

In contrast, while burns, head trauma, and arc flash are serious hazards associated with electrical incidents, they are not the primary causes of fatalities from electrical shock. Burns can occur at the point of contact and other areas where the current exits the body, and they can certainly be life-threatening, but they are not as immediate a threat to survival as the cardiovascular disruptions caused by electrical shock. Head trauma may result from falls or accidents caused by an electrical event but does not represent a direct physiological effect of electrical shock. Arc flash, which involves a release of energy from an electric arc and can cause severe burns and injuries, is a different type of hazard altogether and is not the leading cause of death from electrical exposure.