SHORELINES

What is Electric Shock Drowning? Electric shock drowning (ESD) occurs when someone makes contact with electrified water and becomes a conductor of electricity, leading to complete loss of muscle control, paralysis, rapid or irregular heartbeat and even death. Docks and boats can carry sources of electricity, such as appliances, lights, charging, etc. Electricity can leak into water around boats and docks that use electrical power. Faulty electrical equipment and wiring, the use of damaged electrical cords and other devices, in addition to improper grounding, can cause electrical leakages into the water. ESD is the result of low-level alternating current causing the water to become energized, which paralyzes the victim's muscles while swimming, leading to drowning. As little as 10 milliamps (1/150th the amount used by a 60-watt lightbulb) can cause paralysis and drowning. Electrified water cannot be identified visually. How to Avoid ESD DOCK Do not swim around boats and docks using electricity. Find a swimming location at least 150 feet from any electricity-powered docks. Disconnect power to dock before swimming. Post signs to notify swimmers of potential dangers if your dock uses electricity. Have a visible and readily accessible means of discon- necting power to the dock in case of an emergency. Have a licensed and qualified electrician install and inspect all electrical wiring, ensuring that it meets the National Electric Code, specifically requirements in NFPA 70 Article 555. Have your dock inspected by a licensed and qualified electrician annually as docks are exposed to storms and other elements. Ground-fault circuit-interrupters (GFCIs) and electri- cal-fault circuit-interrupters (EFCIs) should be tested monthly to ensure functionality. Conduct leakage testing to determine if electrical current is escaping in the water. e Electric Shock Drowning Prevention Association (ESDPA) and Electric Safety Foundation International (ESFI) warn that monitoring devices, "green light" devices and dock alarms create a false sense of safety and are only reactive in nature, indicating that the danger exists. Staying out of these potentially dan- gerous waters is the only way to eliminate the risk of ESD. BOAT Never allow swimming near a boat, marina or launching ramp. Residual current could flow into the water from the boat or the marina's wiring. Have your boat inspected annually by a qualified electrician to American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) standards and make sure it is properly maintained. GFCIs and EFCIs should be tested monthly to ensure functionality. Conduct leakage testing to determine if electrical current is escaping the vessel. Never use household cords for providing shore power to your boat. Use only portable GFCIs or shore power cords (including y adapters) that are UL-marine listed when using electricity near water. Know where your main breakers on both the boat and shore are in case they need to be turned off in an emergency. How to Respond IF YOU ARE IN THE WATER Obey all No Swimming signs. If you feel a tingling sensation in the water, turn around and swim away. Warn other swimmers in the area. Immediately report the dangerous situation to the boat, dock or marina owner. IF YOU ARE A WITNESS Do not enter the water. Call 911 or VHF Channel 16 immediately. Turn power off. row a life ring; try to move the person away with a nonconductive object. For more information about these resources, visit the Electric Shock Drowning Prevention Association at electricshockdrowning.org and the Electric Safety Foundation International at esfi.org. 30 | 2017 Vol:2

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