On 28 May 2004 11:45:49 GMT, (Conase) wrote:

I don't know another group to post to and have gotten answers on questions here
in the past.

I was watching The Weather Channel on TV, and they were doing a helicopter
rescue in a flash flood in Vegas area.

The policeman who actually went down the cable to rescue the trapped girl said
:

Electricity follows down the cable and as you get near the water you start
grounding out and the shock hits you and feels like "twice the strength of
sticking your finger in a light socket".

NEVER HEARD OF THIS !

Where is the electricity coming from ?

Static generated by the rotor blades.

Static from a cable going down a pulley ?

It's metal...

If true, why can't they put some kind of INSULATOR between the hook and the
cable ?

Static is both high voltage and tough to insulate.

Construction workers experience cranes and cables on pulleys everyday with no
problem AFAIK.

Not if they've been flying the crane through the air.

Where is the electricity coming from ?

Asked and answered.

We always see these rescues on TV, and no rescuer looks like s/he is shocked at
240 volts.

Have you been hanging on the line?

I've seen it in person, and it won't kill you but it will let you know
you're alive. Biggest danger is usually the reaction to the
discharge.

Jeff