Safety concern makes me slightly reconsider

BarefootBabe19 · Nov 4, 2011

Hi All,

I've been doing a lot of research on pedestrian/running health lately to try and keep my motivation up, especially since the cold is really threatening my willpower to keep it going, and I came across this website that deals with something that could be pretty scary to all runners, especially barefooters. It's called "contact voltage". Apparently lots of people have been injured or killed by the effects of leaked electricity in cities and towns. I don't want to butcher the explanation, so here's the website I found that can paint a better picture. I wonder if I should pause on the barefoot running until I understand this a bit more...

http://www.contactvoltageinfo.org/

June

sloutre · Nov 4, 2011

So it's best to avoid

So it's best to avoid touching metal parts. In my area it would be pretty easy to do, except in super rainy conditions.

If we want to be safer we should not only wear shoes at all times (preferably thick rubber boots) but also wear protective gloves and most importantly not have a pet since touching an electrocuted dog seems to be one of the major causes of accidents.

I was not aware of this problem, and even though it seems relatively serious I prefer making fun of it and continuing to enjoy my runs barefoot...until it gets too cold.

Thanks for sharing.

Barefoot Dama · Nov 4, 2011

I have being aware of this

I have being aware of this for quite sometime now.

There was an article few years back about dogs being affected by it(electrocuted).

We do have the underground system in our city but I figured if the nighborhood's dogs are still around well, then there is nothing I should be worry about.

NickW · Nov 4, 2011

Ok, so no where on this site

Ok, so no where on this site does it give any facts about how often this occurs. For all we know, you have a one in a trillion chance in having this happen. They refer multiple times of one instance only, in 2004 in NYC where a human was killed. Only one... I prefer to live my life instead of being afraid of it. This is interesting as I've never heard of it, but not something that is going to make me stop running barefoot.

Barefoot Gentile · Nov 4, 2011

lol!

lol!

Barefoot TJ · Nov 4, 2011

First, shoes aren't going to

First, shoes aren't going to protect you from being electrocuted.

Second, if this was a serious problem, we would have heard about it by now.

Third, Dama, you crack me up! (Dogs here. I'm here!)

JosephTree · Nov 4, 2011

Ithink I'm a lot more likely

Ithink I'm a lot more likely to get it from on high (and never hear the BOOM!) There are worse ways to go, I'll warrant.

Barefooting Bob · Nov 4, 2011

I think I would be more

I think I would be more worried about getting hit by a bus then this. If you live in a bubble and worry about things like this then what type of life would you live?

Plus imagine the lawsuit that could be filed if you were ever subjected to this :cash:

janson · Nov 4, 2011

Barefoot TJ wrote:First,

Barefoot TJ said:
First, shoes aren't going to protect you from being electrocuted.

I have to disagree with you on that one TJ, the soles of shoes will act as a pretty good insulator, and would protect you from shocks of relatively low voltages, however if it was high enough voltage to really hurt you, it would jump right through the soles of shoes without even noticing them.

jschwab · Nov 5, 2011

Rubber soled shoes will

Rubber soled shoes will protect you in case of eletrocution but I would never let this rule my life. I do avoid metal things I don't have to touch (a guy died leaning on a utility pole here - I posted about in on your RWOL post), but I would not avoid barefoot running because of it.

Barefoot Gentile · Nov 5, 2011

Barefooting Bob wrote:I

Barefooting Bob said:
I think I would be more worried about getting hit by a bus then this. If you live in a bubble and worry about things like this then what type of life would you live?

Exactly!

Barefoot TJ · Nov 5, 2011

janson wrote:Barefoot TJ

janson said:
Barefoot TJ said:

First, shoes aren't going to protect you from being electrocuted.

Click to expand...

I have to disagree with you on that one TJ, the soles of shoes will act as a pretty good insulator, and would protect you from shocks of relatively low voltages, however if it was high enough voltage to really hurt you, it would jump right through the soles of shoes without even noticing them.

Then how are you disagreeing with me? I said electrocuted, not shocked by low voltage. Besides, I used to get shocked all the time when I wore shoes.

Barefoot TJ · Nov 5, 2011

Man, I love that our quote

Man, I love that our quote feature is working now! Thank you Matt! You da man!

janson · Nov 5, 2011

Barefoot TJ wrote:janson

Barefoot TJ said:
janson said:

Barefoot TJ said:

First, shoes aren't going to protect you from being electrocuted.

Click to expand...

I have to disagree with you on that one TJ, the soles of shoes will act as a pretty good insulator, and would protect you from shocks of relatively low voltages, however if it was high enough voltage to really hurt you, it would jump right through the soles of shoes without even noticing them.

Click to expand...

Then how are you disagreeing with me? I said electrocuted, not shocked by low voltage. Besides, I used to get shocked all the time when I wore shoes.

Then yes, we agree. I would say that a shock from a low voltage is still being electrocuted is why I disagreed at first.

(I think the is closest to a being electrocuted smiley)

Joshh · Nov 5, 2011

This thread is really,

This thread is really, well... er, shocking.

jschwab · Nov 6, 2011

In case anyone needs to know

In case anyone needs to know exactly how much protection rubber soled shoes provide http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_1/chpt_3/3.html

Barefoot TJ · Nov 6, 2011

What comes to mind for me are

What comes to mind for me are all the people who have been electrocuted while wearing shoes, struck by lightning, all that. I knew someone who worked for the electric company in Paducah, KY, who died from being electrocuted while working in a bucket on a crane. His partner did not remove power from the line before he touched it. He died two weeks later, but he could have been considered dead from the moment he touched that line.

I would rather be shocked than electrocuted.

From J's link:

I woul Special, insulated shoes and mats are made to protect persons from shock via ground conduction, but even these pieces of gear must be in clean, dry condition to be effective. Normal footwear is not good enough to provide protection from shock by insulating its wearer from the earth.

Nothing is going to protect you from electrocution.

Ashi · Nov 6, 2011

Well, that' s pretty scary !

Well, that' s pretty scary ! I've never heard about such a thing.
But I won't give up barefoot running because of that !

jschwab · Nov 6, 2011

Exactly, TJ. Nothing will

Exactly, TJ. Nothing will help in that situation.

taterman · Nov 6, 2011

Since electricity needs both

Since electricity needs both a point of entry and a point of exit from the body, the best thing to do would be to hop around on one foot thereby eliminating the exit point.

All joking aside, the risks here are extremely low as we have had buried lines for quite some time now and people continue to go around barefoot with relatively few problems. You are more likely to be struck by lightning. A runner's greatest risk, as always, is traffic.

Safety concern makes me slightly reconsider

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