Final answer:
Our bodies are good conductors because of their water content, allowing electric currents to flow through us towards the Earth, an electron sink. Protective measures like wearing insulated shoes can prevent electric shocks. Safety rules and precautions are essential to mitigate the risks of electrical injuries.
Step-by-step explanation:
Although our bodies are not made of metal, we are still good conductors of electricity due to the high content of water in our tissues. The presence of water allows electric currents to flow through us, especially when we touch electrical wires with bare hands. This is because the body provides a path for the current to flow, often seeking the path of least resistance towards the Earth, which is a natural electron sink. However, humans can protect themselves by wearing insulated shoes, which increase resistance and prevent the flow of electrons through the feet, thereby avoiding electric shocks.
It is essential to always be cautious and not offer a pathway for current flow when working with high-power tools or any potential electrical hazards, particularly a pathway that could lead across the heart. Even though very small currents (<5 mA) generally pass through the body without harm, currents higher than that threshold can cause severe consequences, including involuntary muscle contractions and the dangerous "can't let go" effect, where a shock victim cannot release their grip on an energized object. To ensure safety, various precautions and safety rules are in place to prevent or mitigate the risk of electrical shocks.