Bathroom Electrics

Why is it dangerous to take electrical appliances into a bathroom?

It dangerous to take electrical appliances into a bathroom or indeed anywhere that there is lot of moisture, because water is such an excellent conductor of electricity. A person could receive an extremely severe, if not fatal, electric shock if the appliance fell into the bathwater.

There are two kinds of electricity. One is static electricity which remains stationary in an object. The other is current electricity which flows, as in a wire. An electric current is formed by the movements of electrons. It is possible to transfer electrons from one thing to another by rubbing them together. One object is given a positive charge, and the other a negative charge of electricity. Objects with like charges repel each other while those with unlike charges attract each other.

Some things lose their charge at once. Others retain it for a long time. Substances which do not retain an electrical charge are called conductors, while those which keep the charge are called non-conductors or insulators. All metals and water are conductors. The human body is also a conductor, but not a good one. Insulators include glass, paper, plastic and silk, In fact, materials which are good conductors of heat are also conductors of electricity.

Water is at least a million times better at conducting electricity at room temperature than any other non-metallic liquid. So never take the risk of a terrible accident by handling any electrical gadget in the bath. You should also remember to turn off the current before touching anyone who has had an electric shock and still in contact with the appliance. If you don’t do this you will probably get a shock too!