What safety measure does a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter provide?

A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) is specifically designed to provide protection from electrical shock. It functions by continuously monitoring the electrical current flowing through the circuit. If it detects an imbalance, which indicates that some of the current is escaping potentially to the ground (and thus could cause a shock to a person), it quickly disconnects the power to prevent injury. This rapid response is crucial in environments where water is present, as the risk of shock is significantly heightened.

While other safety measures are important in electrical systems, such as preventing circuit overload or filtering electrical currents, those functions are not the primary role of a GFCI. Circuit overload prevention typically involves circuit breakers or fuses, and the calibration of electrical devices is related to ensuring that they operate within their specified parameters, which does not pertain to the immediate protection from electric shock.