One of the most dangerous situations related to boating is an often unidentified killer called Electric Shock Drowning.
The Boat Association of the United States (BoatUS) has released information about fatal events that boaters, private-dock owners and swimmers rarely recognize. And even when they're aware of ESD, often the information they possess is inaccurate, incomplete or misleading.
ESD deaths, although rare, occur each year and happen when 120-volt alternating current leads from boats or docks and incapacitates or electrocutes swimmers. Water deaths may be described as drowning when in fact they were caused by ESD. And each death was preventable.
BoatUS's Electric Shock Drowning Resource Center was created to help address the problem. It supplies helpful articles and presentations, all confirmed as accurate.
Each boater and adult who swims in a freshwater lake needs to understand how ESD happens, how to stop it from happening, and what to do — and not to do — if they have to assist a victim.
Here are some BoatUS tips about how to handle ESD:
* Tell others about ESD. Most people never have heard of it and don't know its potential danger.
* To retrieve a person in the water, reach, throw and go, but don't go in (to them).
* Make sure children understand the importance of not swimming near an electrified dock. Tell them what to do if they feel tingling or shock in the water. For example, don't swim toward the dock. Back away from the area and head for shore at least 100 yards from the dock. Tell the dock or marina owner to turn off the power. Take victims to a hospital and tell doctors what happened.
* ESD victims are candidates for successful Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Learn to perform CPR and maintain training.
* Never swim within 100 yards of any freshwater marina or boatyard.
* Talk to marina owners or operators about the danger of ESD. Ask marina operators to prohibit swimming at their facility and post signs.
* Ask marina operators if they're aware of and follow the guidelines in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 303 (fire protection standard for marinas and boatyards) and National Electric Code (NEC) 555.
* Have your boat tested once a year to see if it's leaking electricity or buy a clamp meter and test it. If you find problems, have the boat inspected by a qualified electrician trained to American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) standards.
* Have a qualified ABYC electrician install an Equipment Leakage Circuit Interrupter (ELCI) on the boat (refer them to the ABYC E-11 Standard) or use a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) in the shore power cord. As an alternative, install an isolation transformer on the boat.
* Test the GFCI/ELCI at least once a month or per the manufacturer's specifications.
* Don't do your own 120-volt AC electrical work on a boat or hire an electrician who isn't familiar with ABYC standards. Many problems that lead to an electrical fault on boats result from the differences between shore and boat electrical systems and standards.
* Don't use household extension cords to provide shore power to a boat. Use and encourage other boaters to use shore power cords built to UL standards, ideally with a built-in GFCI.
* Never dive off a boat to work on underwater fittings when it's connected to shore power, even in saltwater.
Private dock owners also need to take care of a few precautions when adding electrical outlets.
* Don't swim within 100 yards of any private dock using electrical power.
* If you haven't electrified your dock or put an AC system on your boat, weigh the risks carefully before doing so.
* If you need electricity on a dock, hire a licensed electrician and make sure the wiring meets the requirements in NFPA 303 and NEC 555. If a dock is already wired, hire an electrician to check it was done properly. Because docks are exposed to the elements, their electrical systems should be inspected at least once a year.
* If you run a power cord from a house or garage to charge batteries, make sure the outlet has a GFCI and include a GFCI somewhere in the shore power cord.
* Never swim off your dock without shutting down all shore power to the boat and the dock.
* Nearby docks can still present a shock hazard. Educate neighbors and work together with them to make the waterfront safe.
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