An invisible hazard can lurk near docks for swimmers, which is why they should swim to safer areas at the first sign of trouble.
Electric Shock Drowning severely injures or kills several people each year. It occurs when outdated wiring and a lack of proper safety equipment on boats and docks cause electricity to seep or leak into the water.
ESD can be a particularly dangerous threat because it is impossible to tell if water is energized by sight alone. According to the Electric Shock Drowning Prevention Association, between 10 and 15 milliamps, which is just 1/50 the wattage of a 60-watt light bulb, can cause drowning.
The association also reports that most ESD deaths have occurred in public and private marinas and docks.
Safe Electricity recommends that individuals do not swim around docks with electrical equipment or boats plugged into shore power. If you are in the water and feel an electric current:
- Shout to let others know
- Try to stay upright
- Tuck your legs up to make yourself smaller
- Swim away from anything that could be energized. Do not swim to the boat or dock ladders to get out.
If you see someone who you suspect is getting shocked, do not immediately jump in to save them. Throw them a float, turn off the shore power connection or unplug shore power cords. Try to eliminate the source of electricity as quickly as possible, then call 911 for help.
Safe Electricity, along with the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers/National Electrical Contractors Association, recommends adhering to these steps in order to enhance water recreation safety and accident prevention:
- All electrical installations and maintenance should be performed by a professional electrical contractor familiar with marine codes and standards and inspected at least once a year.
- Docks should have GFCI breakers on the circuits feeding electricity to the dock.
- The metal frame of docks should be bonded to connect all metal parts to the alternating current (AC) safety ground at the power source.
- Neighboring docks can also present a shock hazard. Inform your neighbors of the need for safety inspections and maintenance. Marinas should comply with the National Fire Protection Association and the National Electrical Code.
- Have your boat’s electrical system checked at least once a year. Boats should also be checked when something is added to or removed from their systems.
- Boats with alternating current (AC) systems should have isolation transformers or equipment leakage circuit interrupter (ELCI) protection, comply with ABYC standards, and be serviced by an ABYC Certified® Technician.
For more electrical safety information, visit the Safe Electricity website.
Source: Safeelectricity.org.