Summer Safety Alert: Electric Shock Drowning

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Posted by Steven Ellis

As the dog days of summer arrive, we are at the height of sunscreen, popsicle, and watersport season. Everyone has a different way to cool off from the August sun, but jumping into a body of water may be the most tempting escape from the heat and humidity. Despite the refreshment that a cannon-ball into cool water promises, there can be a danger lurking beneath the surface of these waters that is unseen and often unpredictable.

Earlier this summer, a horrific story came out of Priceville, Alabama where a fifteen-year-old cheerleader died from electric shock drowning while swimming in the lake behind her house. One minute, the girl was swimming happily and the next, she appeared to be dragged beneath the water. Her family explained the rusty wiring on the dock was sending deadly, invisible electric currents into the water. When her father and brother jumped in to save her, they were nearly killed themselves when the electrical current shot through their bodies, locking up their muscles and halting their rescue efforts (Osunsami, 2016). This story hit us hard: The Johnsons are a friend of the ORR family.

Around the office, so much of the daily conversation revolves around workplace safety and preventing worker injuries. There is a focus on building a culture of safety awareness around factories, manufacturing plants, and other job sites around the country. Yet, building a true culture of safety means developing a mindset that doesn’t just stay in the office. Hazards are present outside of the workplace and being equipped and empowered to recognize them can prevent tragedy long after clocking out for the day. This includes being alert to the electrical hazards that swimmers in pools and near docks and marinas may be exposed to.

 A Preventable Hazard

Pick up any of your household appliances and you’ll often see an attached sticker that warns against using it close to water. This same principle applies to extension cords, pumps, and anything that is powered by electricity at your dock, boat, or swimming pool. Using electrical systems designed, manufactured, installed, and maintained for wet conditions is absolutely essential to preventing a tragic situation for swimmers of any age.   According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, the biggest risks of electrocution in a swimming pool come from faulty underwater lighting, aging electrical wiring, and electrical devices such as sump pumps, power washers, vacuums and extension cords that are not grounded.

Electricity and electrical devices are commonly used at most pools, docks, around boats, and at marinas.  According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, electric shock drowning “occurs when a body makes contact with electrified water and becomes a conductor of electricity” (ESFI, 2016). This leads to possible loss of all muscle control, irregular heartbeat, and in the worst cases, death by electrical shock.

Test electrical circuits near pools, docks, boats and marinas with circuits testers to determine if electrical circuits are functioning properly or if electrical current is leaking from them.  Remember that these current leak tests must be performed with all of the electrical appliances (such as pumps, lights, or refrigerators) fully operating.  Only allow certified electricians familiar with National Electric Codes (NEC) and American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) codes to perform electrical work and repairs.

 Staying Safe In The Water

While not a leading cause of deaths, electrical shock drownings are not isolated incidents. According to the Electric Shock Drowning Prevention Association, 25 of these deaths have occurred in the United States in the past 5 years (Osunsami, 2016). On top of basic swimming ability, everyone in your group should become acquainted with electrical shock safety measures.

Steps to avoid electric shock while swimming include:

  • Only swim in designated areas. Read all signage placed throughout the area.
  • Do not swim around a boat while it is running.
  • Never swim near a marina or boat dock unless the electrical power has been disconnected at the main breaker switch.
  • Always keep electrical cords a safe distance away from the water and splash zone.
  • If you feel tingling while swimming, alert the nearest person and swim back the way you came.

When faced with a potential shock of someone in the water, follow these steps:

  • Stay out of the water. No matter how much you want to help, you are putting yourself in danger and furthering the danger of the victim if you enter the water.
  • Call emergency services. Call 911 on your cell phone or channel 16 on a VHF marine radio.
  • Safely turn off all nearby power sources or potential threats.
  • Exercise extreme caution when removing someone from the water. Use insulators that resist transfer of electricity if using an aid device.
  • ESD victims can be revived with CPR. Learn CPR and maintain proficiency with it.

Lastly, take the time to talk to your marina’s owner to help prevent electrical hazards. Marina managers should follow this checklist to ensure safety:

  • Regularly check for frayed or cracked cords. If any are found or on the verge of becoming a hazard, replace them immediately.
  • Regularly inspect electrical system grounding circuits. Make sure electrical devices and extension cords are protected by a ground wire and ground plug and that wires are not damaged, grounding wires are securely connected, and grounding spades of a three prong plug are not missing.
  • Check for corrosion around power pedestals and other power sources. Call in the proper professionals to deal with these if necessary.
  • Use Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) and Equipment Leakage Circuit Interrupters (ELCIs) where necessary. These quickly shut off a circuit’s power when will preventing shock by shutting off the electrical current if the amount of electricity going out differs by a certain amount from that returning.
  • Test GFCI and ELCI protection at least monthly as specified by the devices manufacturer.
  • Only use UL standard shore power cords to provide electrical power from a shore power to a boat. Never use standard household extension cords for ship to boat electrical power transfers.
  • Use certified electricians familiar with ABYC and NEC requirements. Maritime, dock, and shore electrical devices are often wired differently from each other.
  • Always be up to code. Have your property installed and inspected by a certified marine electrician to make sure it meets local NEC NFPA and ABYC safety codes (ESFI). Protective devices such as GFCI or ELCI’s may not be required for older boats or facilities but consider having them installed anyway as a retrofit.

The Electric Shock Drowning Prevention Association is a great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about this topic.

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Raising Awareness to Electric Shock Drowning Surrounding Tragedy in North Carolina

by: Steve Udelson

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Electric shock drowning is a serious danger in freshwater swimming and boating areas, but many people have never heard of it.

Chief meteorologist Steve Udelson talked with two local people who learned about the danger the hard way.

Annette Goodman, of Charlotte, lost her sister, Donna Berger, last month.

“Donna and I were very close. It’s going to be hard not to talk to her,” Goodman explained to Udelson.

Berger and her family were on a boating trip with friends at a Tennessee lake. Her 13-year-old son, Zachary, was swimming and began having trouble in the water.

Berger, who was an exceptional swimmer, jumped in to get him to safety.

But after Zachary was safely in the boat, everyone noticed his mother was still in the water.

“She didn’t look right. And they asked if she was okay, and she just shook her head no and dropped her head,” Goodman said.

That’s when Berger’s neighbor, 74-year-old Randy Freeney, jumped in to help. He, too, was a strong swimmer.

“This gentleman was swimming and literally just stopped and rolled over on his side,” Goodman explained. “And he was right next to Donna.”

Goodman is convinced both Freeney and her sister succumbed to electric shock drowning, or ESD, which happens when an electrical current leaks into the water.

The current can come from a dock, marina, or even the boat itself.

It can cause immediate paralysis and even kill.

Electric shock drowning typically occurs in freshwater lakes or ponds. The mineral content of sea water makes it more conductive than the human body, so an electrical current would travel through sea water and bypass the body.

Jason Mertz said he survived an electric shock several years ago while he was swimming in Lake Norman. At the time, however, he had no idea what was happening.

“Jumped off the boat as I always do,” Mertz told Udelson. “Got in the water and all of a sudden, started feeling that tingling. You can feel the immobilization of your muscles. I could feel myself sinking down. At that point under the water, I would describe it as I had given up, this was over. It was done.”

According to the Electric Shock Drowning Prevention Association, 43 people have died in the past decade from ESD.  Experts think the numbers may be much higher — that some ESD victims are simply listed as “drowning victims.”

Danger near docks and marinas

Bill Young is director of marina services for Morningstar Marinas on Lake Norman.

He said any water with an electrical source nearby is dangerous to swimmers.

“If you see a household electrical cord being draped onto a private dock, that’s probably not a good place to swim,” he explained. “You really want to be at least 150 feet away from any structure if you are swimming.”

Young advises dock owners to:

  • Use only marine-grade power cords
  • Make sure those cords have no corrosion or damage
  • Have all electrical work done by a professional

Boat owners should unplug power cords from both the boat and the dock whenever they’re not being used.

And if a swimmer becomes distressed, Young advises thinking twice before jumping in yourself.

“There’s a phrase that says, ‘Reach, throw or row, but don’t go.’ You want to throw something to them but you can’t jump in the water or else you’ll be in the same situation,” he said.

Warning signs are posted around Morningstar Marinas, but Young said many people ignore the danger from the electricity.

“The No. 1 thing we would always tell people that are at a marina or public dock, is not to get in the water. That is the number one thing you can do,” Young advised.

Click below to hear how to prevent electric shock drowning

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Electrical Shock Results in Harveys Lake Drowning

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BILL WELLOCK

HARVEYS LAKE — Authorities identified the man who drowned in an accident at Harveys Lake on Thursday as Dakota Watkins, 24, of Tunkhannock.

Luzerne County Coroner Bill Lisman pronounced Watkins dead at 5:26 p.m. Thursday at the scene.

“At this time, early in the investigation, it appears there might have been an electrical shock that incapacitated him, resulting in his drowning,” said Lisman, who oversaw the autopsy on the body Friday morning.

The incident happened near pole 131 on Lakeside Drive/state Route 415.

Watkins was working for a contractor that was building a boathouse on the property, said Harveys Lake police Chief Charles Musial.

While he was working, Watkins came in contact with an electrified jet ski lift.

 

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The danger of electrical shock drownings

Check out this video segment featuring Shock Alert, LLC as a solution for testing pools and lakes.
Shock Alert is a device, designed to detect electrical voltage in water and warn you and your family before it’s too late.

Every family loves to cool off in the summer with a swim at a pool or lake. What some people don’t know is that water can conduct harmful electricity…and electrified water might be more common than you think.


The presence of electrical voltage in water can occur at any moment—it may be the result of a faulty electrical connection on an underwater pool light, an incorrectly wired pump or boat lift, or simply stray electrical current in the ground due to surrounding power.

Companies like, Mister Sparky, are using Shock Alert to take preventative measures and raise awareness in the pool and lake communities.

 

ELECTRIC SHOCK DROWNING: BOATING AND MARINA ELECTRICAL SAFETY RESOURCES

Helpful tips reduce the risk of electric shock drowning and boating electrical hazards.

With summer in full swing, the American National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) are joining forces to remind boaters, marina operators and swimmers to be aware of the potential electrical hazards that exist on board boats and in the waters surrounding boats, marinas and launch ramps. Electric shock drownings (ESD) can occur when marina or onboard electrical systems leak electrical current into the water. The leak can cause a shock that can injure, disable or kill a person, as reported in the NFPA Journal article, Troubled Waters.

ESFI has boating and marina safety resources including brochures, toolkits, reference guides, and checklists that cover safety devices, common ESD causes and prevention methods, response protocol, and marina electrical safety considerations.

ESFI recommends five key tips for boat owners:

Swimming Safety – Never allow swimming near the boat, marina, or launching ramp. Residual current could flow into the water from the boat, or the marina’s wiring, potentially putting anyone in the water at risk of ESD.

Put It to the Test – Be sure your boat is properly maintained and consider having it inspected annually. Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) and equipment leakage circuit interrupters (ELCIs) should be tested monthly to ensure functionality. Conduct leakage testing to determine if electrical current is escaping the vessel.

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Lake Of the Ozarks Dock Water Electrocutions force Moms to Fight for New Laws

According to KMBC.com

The Lake of the Ozarks is a popular summertime destination in the heart of Missouri, but for one family, it’s a sad reminder of loss.

Alexandra Anderson, 13, and Brayden Anderson, 8, were electrocuted while swimming at the lake on the Fourth of July in 2012.

Their mother is now fighting power and money in Jefferson City in hopes of making every lake safer and preventing more children from dying.

“I heard the most horrific scream,” said Angela Anderson. “I just knew I was watching them die.”

The children received a fatal shock from power on a dock that spread into the water.

“Something needs to change down there because otherwise, it’s going to continue to happen,” Anderson said.

She’s behind House Bill 2067, which demands stricter safety measures, including ground fault circuit interrupter shut-offs installed at the shoreline. The Andersons didn’t have one of the $300 devices that will shut off electricity running into the water.

The bill’s sponsor, Republican Rep. Caleb Jones, said it’s a no-brainer. Before this week, the bill had gone two years without even a hearing.

Behind closed doors, there are talks underway with Ameren, the lake’s owner.

“Any issues we’ve had, they’ve always taken it to their staff and analyzed it and given us answers on whether they could support it,” Jones said.

Ameren wouldn’t respond to requests for comment on its position on House Bill 2607.

Jones said the electric utility has a lot of influence on the issue. KMBC 9 News found that Ameren outspent all other lobbyists in the capital, using $38,000 to woo lawmakers.

“The Lake of the Ozarks is a very safe lake,” said Republican Rep. Diane Franklin.

Franklin, whose district includes part of the lake, said new rules aren’t needed to prevent deaths.

“Anything is possible when you have electricity and water,” Franklin said.

Ameren said it educates property owners about faulty wiring and dangers at the lake.

“It’s constantly like I’m trying to do what I know is best,” Anderson said. “What I know will save people from this horrible experience that I’m living.”

The Andersons sued Ameren after the children died. The case was dismissed.

“I go on because of them and because nobody – nobody – should live through this,” Anderson said.

The bill would apply to all Missouri lakes, not just the Lake of the Ozarks. Ameren does require new or newly upgraded lakes to have ground fault circuit interrupters, but many docks still don’t have them.

 

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