It should also be on a ground fault circuit interrupter for the same reason. The amount of voltage used for treatment ranges from 70 to 130 volts at a duration between 0.1 and 1.5 seconds. After the electrodes are placed on the patient, a resistance reading is taken and Ohm's Law is used to figure out how much voltage should be given. Once this is determined, the voltage and shock duration are set. After this is done, the safety key is turned, the button guard is lifted and the button is pressed to give the treatment.
Shock treatments cause apnea, a temporary loss of breathing.
Artificial respiration is sometime used as a safety measure. The patient remains unconscious for about five minutes after the treatment. The shock treatments also cause a temporary loss of memory. If the shock treatments don't get the desired results in a reasonable time, they usually try a lobotomy next.