Odin said:
I'm not sure, but I thought this was the reason that bathrooms didn't have power sockets in them.
Hmm? Every bathroom I've been in has had power sockets in them.
Usually they're near the door and not near the bathtub, but depends on how big your bathroom is as to if it would reach.
(USA)
PS: I would think if the same thing happend to me (ick) I would first yank the cord immediately then grab them. I mean, I understand the panic state, but it's not like electricity isn't well known. Going into certain death or certain harm when there is a direct alternative..... well.....
It would be like someone being trapped in a huge fire, a fire you know to be deadly and there is a fire estinguisher right next to you. Even in a panic state, I think you'd grab the estinguisher, right next to you, and then go in. The effect of fire being deadly is pretty well known, even if someone you love is thrust into a life threatening situation.
Not only that, but hair dryers in particular are built to protect people from electrocution. In the 1980s there were around 18 deaths per year from them. In 1990, an industry standard was developed to give protection from electrocution when the hairdryer is in the on or off position.
http://www.cpsc.gov/
Kind of a moot point since this particular story has already been shown to most likely be a hoax. ;p In record time ;p