How to prevent being electrically shocked?

Question

I am often electrically shocked when I touch metal. Of course, i dont mean serious injury, but just small sparks that occur from time to time that everyone has probably encountered. It happens most to me when I wear flip-flops.

So what are some things I could do to prevent these small shocks?

yes, static electricity, thats what i meant

prevention measures that can be taken in every day life,

meaning, please dont suggest wearing gloves all day, etc. the key thing is a good idea though. I've heard it somewhere before...

Answer 1

When people wear flip-flops, they drag the heels when they walk (you can hear people wearing flip-flops from several meters away).
The scraping of the flip-flops on the ground causes friction, and this friction will result in a static electricity buildup - like rubbing a balloon against your hair, then when you pull the balloon away your hair stands up and seems to be attracted to the balloon).

This buildup of static electricity can occur anytime, especially when the air is very dry. It is especially dangerous when you get gas - in cold winter months people often set the gas nozzle in the tank and let it go automatically, then get back into the car to wait. When you get back out, you develop a static charge that has to discharge - and that happens when you touch anything metal (usually the gas nozzle).

So to prevent the buildup, make sure you don't drag your heels when you walk. If you find you still get these shocks, then every time you touch something metal or conductive, it will discharge. So if you touch things often, the charge doesn't have a chance to build up to the point where its painful.

It seems that some people are just more eletrically inclined than others.

Answer 2

Don't wear flip-flops.

That's the short answer; here's the long answer:

When you walk, your shoes scrape against the floor, and you pull the electrons that are on the outside of the atoms on the floor off. These electrons stick to your shoes.

These electrons have a small negative electric charge. As you cross the floor, you are building up more and more charge. When you finally get to a place where this charge can drain off and go back to ground (literally!), there will be a flow of electrons, which we call current. If the charge is large enough, the current will leap through the air in a miniature lightning bolt, cause the visible spark and a little shock to you.

This is most noticeable in dry weather, since humidity in the air tends to drain off some of these excess electrons.

Again, the way to stop this is to change shoes to something with more conductive soles, such as leather rather than plastic.

Neoprene rubber is conductive, and many shoe soles are made of this material as well.

Answer 3

That is static electricity you're feeling. Your flip-flops and the carpet or flooring you are walking on are causing a charge to be built up in you. When you touch metal your charge jumps from you to the metal. It is completely harmless, although it may be unpleasant.

To prevent it, try quickly rapping the metal with a knuckle, similar to a single knock on a door. You don't have to do it hard, that doesn't matter. Just quickly and with a knuckle. That part of you body has less nerve endings so you don't feel the shock and the feeling of bumping the metal tends to mask it further.

Answer 4

Don't wear items that generate static electricity
and don't wear shoes the insulate completely
avoid scuffling you shoes on nylon carpet
(that's why flip flops give you bigger shocks)

The problem is not with the metal you touch
The problem is that you are carrying a charge
of a few thousand volts static electricity

The current that flows a bit painfull to you,
but it is usually fatal to electronic components
your career in electronics might end prematurely

See Static Electricity wrist straps (earthing)
for more reading / understanding

Answer 5

Buy a humidifier especially during the winter months when everything is dry from heating your home which causes static electric shocks. It's the dryness in the air and walking across a carpet that builds up static electricity in you causing the small spark when you touch something.

Answer 6

Its static electricity... just hold a key in your hand and touch the key to the metal before you touch the metal with your hand.

The end of the key will take the shock instead of your hand.

Answer 7

I assume you're referring to Static Electricity Discharging...
You could buy a grounding wrist strap (used for working on computer type printed circuit boards) keeping yourself sort of "Bungeed" to the water faucet, always grounded. You'll not develop the static charge you experience because your body cannot "build up" a charge since it is at ground potential. Secondly, there's a spray available to diminish static in your environment.

Answer 8

try to use rubber slippers or shoes, make sure u dont wear anything that conducts electricity

Answer 9

If you are on an electric wire of some sort keep both hands and both feet on it at all times and you won't get shocked.

Answer 10

better dont touch it. thtas the best solution