What can result in much higher current flow if electrical contact is made where the skin is broken?

When electrical contact occurs at a site where the skin is broken, such as an open wound, the body's resistance to electrical current is significantly reduced. Healthy, intact skin acts as a barrier that helps to keep electrical resistance high, typically preventing dangerous levels of current from flowing through the body. However, when the skin is compromised, as in the case of a wound, this protective barrier is breached, leading to lower resistance.

This lower resistance means that if an electrical contact is made at the site of the wound, there can be a much higher current flow through the body than would otherwise be the case with unbroken skin. This increased current flow can pose significant electrical shock risks, potentially leading to serious injury or even death.

Other factors, such as body weight, clothing material, or cold weather conditions, may influence overall susceptibility to electrical shock but do not directly cause an increase in current flow at the site of a wound. Thus, the condition of having broken skin is crucial in increasing the risk of significant electrical hazards through increased current flow.