Field treatment in electric shock cases

Electric shocks of the order of 0.1 ampere can throw the heart into a twitching state of ventricular fibrillation. Several amperes, on the other hand, simply contract the heart and paralyze the breathing which artificial respiration can relieve, Ventricular fibrillation, however, can be ended only by sending sufficient current through the heart by electrodes on the skin of the chest.