Who should own a Shock Alert, LLC?

Anyone who loves the water! Whether you are a home pool owner, a hotel manager w a pool, a lake go-er or dock/boat owner or even a traveler who wants to check before they swim- Shock Alert, LLC is a device that will give you peace of mind.

Are docks/boats regulated?

There are marine codes that regulate docks and boats. They are NFPA 303 (Fire Protection Standard for Marinas and Boatyards), NFPA 70, and National Electric Code 555 (NEC). Boatus.com also notes “boats not wired in accordance with standards set forth by the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) can be a source of AC leakage.”

How much electricity is needed for this to happen?

Not much at all. It takes only small amounts of leaking AC to incapacitate or electrocute a person. As small an amount as 15 milliamps can cause paralysis, 100 milliamps – or a third of the amount of electricity need to light a 40-watt light bulb – can kill a person in seconds. In comparison, a double AA battery produces 2400 milliamps per hour.

Why does ESD happen in fresh water and not salt water?

We go back to conductivity for the answer. Fresh water is not a good electrical conductor. Because it is not a good conductor, the alternating current looks for something better. A human body in fresh water becomes that something better. The high amount of salt in humans make our bodies far better conductors of electrical current than fresh water.

What causes people to be electrocuted?

Electrical current will always attempt to return to its source in order to complete the electrical circuit. Electrical current is resourceful and will find any way to do that, taking the path of least resistance and most conductivity (anything that will help the current move along its path). The way alternating current (AC) searches for its source is the most deadly for humans because it takes only a small amount of AC to disrupt the electrical impulses that control our muscles and nerves.

Why is electricity in the water?

Electricity may be introduced to water in a variety of ways, including improperly wired pumps, boats, or lighting, improperly grounded wires, or stray current in the ground. This presence of electrical voltage in water is invisible, so it is crucial that water always be checked for voltage prior to swimming.

What is Electric Shock Drowning?

Electric Shock Drowning (ESD) occurs when AC voltage present in water passes through your body. Even a low-level of voltage can cause skeletal muscular paralysis, rendering the victim helpless and eventually resulting in drowning.