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Answers to Readers' Questions on Physical Science:

Reducing Static Electricity Shocks

The following 6 comments and questions have been sent in. They are listed according to date.

List of first 10 items

• Daughter gets shocks touching items
• Wants to buy a Static Shock Eliminator
• Can keppra cause electrical shocks?
• Static strip on car did not work
• My clothes cling to me really bad!
• Give me a list of products to stop shocks

Next 10

Daughter gets shocks touching items

Question

May 12, 2010

hello my daughter when she touches the lawnmover, fridge freezer, turns on a light or even when she is driving makes these things break down. it is getting worse. any ideas as to what she can do. thanks

- UK

19711

Answer

Some people seem more prone to causing static electricity than others. The most likely cause is that she has dry skin and is wearing clothes made of synthetic materials.

Using skin moisturizer and wearing 100% cotton clothes can help solve the problem. Also, in areas where she seems to get the most shocks, she can try to remember to first touch some metal, perhaps with a metal key.

I hope these ideas help to solve this pesky problem.

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Wants to buy a Static Shock Eliminator

Question

April 21, 2010

I found your information very useful, but i have one question. What do you mean by ground yourself? I tried to purchase a LCD Static Shock Eliminator from Amazon.com but you obviously can not receive it in Ireland.Do you know of anywhere i can get one.

Muriel - Ireland

19573

Answer

Grounding yourself means to allow the flow of electrons to go from your body to some other object or into the ground.

With static electricity, you can touch things that will draw the excess charges from your body. Touching something metal works the best, but it can also cause a spark and a shock. Some people will hold a metal key and touch something metal to draw off the charges. The LCD Static Shock Eliminator works like that, except for some buffering electronics in it.

Touching a wooden door before touching the metal doorknob can help somewhat.

Some sites to check for a Static Shock Eliminator are:

http://www.ecplaza.net/product/5172_117377/shock_zero_shock_detector.html

http://www.irishblogs.ie/similar-to/%E2%80%9Cthe-static-electricity-eliminator-see-is-a-little-device-from/

http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/japanfan/9de7?cpg=cj

Good luck in getting what you want.

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Can keppra cause electrical shocks?

Question

February 9, 2010

Can medicines cause shock? EX:Keppra

Harriett - USA

19183

Answer

Medicines can have various side effects. Keppra can cause drowsiness, accidental injury, and weakness. However, medicines cannot cause electrical shocks.

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Static strip on car did not work

Question

December 22, 2009

I purchased a static strip from Canadian Tire to put on the frame of my vehicle, but it doesn't work, even though it's touching the ground. Why doesn't it work? and how does the key fob work to reduce shocks?

gloria - Canada

18913

Answer

Those static strips have been around for a long time, although they are mainly used in trucks. I'm not sure how effective they are. They mainly try to dissipate charges to avoid sparks when fueling.

If your problem is getting shocks when you get out of your car, the problem is more likely to be your coat material rubbing across the seat and causing you to build up charges. A static strip on the vehicle would do no good there.

Problems in getting shocks from the car frame can be reduced by touching the frame with a metal key or a special key fob. The charges go from your body into the metal of the automobile.

Although a nuisance, the sparks can be hazardous if they occur while filling your fuel tank.

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My clothes cling to me really bad!

Question

December 16, 2009

My clothes cling to me really bad! I have static guard in every room and in my car. Is there something else I can do to save money on the static guard I am having to buy now. Thank you

VALARIE - USA

18862

Answer

See "Overcoming Static Cling and Flyaway Hair" at:
http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/static_cling.htm

A good way to reduce the static charges when the clothes come out of the dryer is to run a metal hanger over them. Also, note that dry skin creates changes. Lotion can reduce the clinging to your skin.

I hope this helps.

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Give me a list of products to stop shocks

Question

October 30, 2009

It would be s so easy for you guys to give me a list of products that REALLY do what they say they'll DO!! I( really need to get this Electrical static discharge to work for us.My7 wife , my kid, my animals ,myself and all the people I meet through the day

James - USA

18597

Answer

The best way to reduce getting static electricity shocks is to follow the advice concerning the clothes you wear, as well as being careful to ground yourself before touching other people or things such as metal doorknobs.

I haven't tried the product listed on this page, so I can't vouch for its effectiveness. It isn't easy to research and list various products, since that is not the objective of this website.

Best wishes in finding a solution to getting static shocks.

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