What voltage and amps are and why high volts may not kill you but high amps will
In: 16
Other answers hit the basics. There are two distinct bad things that can happen from a high current jolt. The most dangerous is a current of 100-200 mA which will probably cause your heart to stop, depending on how the current is entering your body. This is a very specific range of current that directly interferes with the electrical signals that regulate your heart.
Above that range, this particular heart phenomenon is less likely to occur. Instead, the body will experience burns and the victim will probably black out. While death is still possible (and at some point likely) above the 100-200 range, if the electricity can be stopped quickly and medical attention is immediately available, it is possible to survive. At some very high current level, death is again inevitable.
Latest Answers