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A Potential Fire Hazard

Russell S. Hummel III, BSEE; Joseph P. Ornato, MD; Stuart M. Weinberg, MD; Alex M. Clarke, PhD

JAMA. 1988;260(20):3021-3024.

Abstract
After a defibrillation attempt started a fire in an oxygen-enriched intensive care unit environment, seven popular electrode gels were tested for spark-generating properties by repeated 360-J electrical discharges into a 50- test load. Gels with low initial impedance (7±1 ) allowed a high current flow (51 ±1 A), maintained a cool temperature (27°C to 33°C), and did not spark. Gels with high initial impedance (125 ±14 ) allowed less current (26 ±2 A), heated to 52°C±2°C, liquified, and generated an electrical spark after the fourth or fifth discharge. Federal standards should be developed to identify and label electrode gels that can be used safely for high-current applications such as defibrillation.

(JAMA 1988;260:3021-3024)

Author Affiliations
From the Divisions of Biomedical Engineering (Dr Clarke and Mr Hummel) and Cardiology (Dr Ornato), and the Department of Anesthesiology (Dr Weinberg and Mr Hummel), Medical College of Virginia, Richmond.

Footnotes
Reprint requests to Medical College of Virginia, Box 525, Richmond, VA 23298 (Dr Ornato).

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