Prevent Deadly Shocks Around Boats and Docks
If you own a boat and/or a dock, there are steps you can take to prevent deadly shocks, also known as Electric Shock Drowning (ESD).
Past accidents involving stray electricity and water include:
- The Ritz family was stunned when their son was killed while swimming with his life jacket on, closely supervised by his mother. Electricity was leaking into the water from a boat plugged in to shore power.
- An 18-year-old teen swimming off a dock at Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia was fatally electrocuted from stray voltage during the Fourth of July holiday. Two friends were injured trying to save him.
- A 26-year-old woman swimming with family in the Lake of the Ozarks was electrocuted when she touched an energized dock ladder.
- Also at Lake of the Ozarks, a 13-year-old girl and her 8-year-old brother received fatal electrical shocks while swimming near a private dock; an improperly grounded circuit was the cause.
- In Tennessee, two boys aged 10 and 11 lost their lives while swimming between houseboats on Cherokee Lake, a result of electricity entering the water through frayed wires beneath the boat.
An important step in helping prevent such tragedies is to ensure proper installation and maintenance of electrical equipment on docks and on boats. Take the time to inspect all electrical systems on or near the water.
Safe Electricity, with the American Boat and Yacht Council, recommends adhering to these steps to improve water recreation safety and accident prevention:
- Electrical installations should be performed by a professional electrician familiar with marine codes and standards, and inspected at least once a year.
- Docks should have ground fault circuit interrupter (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. That will ensure any part of the metal dock that becomes energized because of electrical malfunction will trip the circuit breaker.
- Make your neighbors aware of the need for safety inspections and maintenance, as neighboring docks can also present a shock hazard. Marinas should comply with NFPA and NEC codes.
Here are a few additional tips for your boat’s electrical system, particularly those with AC systems:
- Regardless of the size of boat, maintenance of the electrical system should be done by a professional familiar with marine electrical codes.
- 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 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.
If you are in the water and feel electric current:
- Shout to let others know.
- Tuck your legs up to make yourself smaller.
- Try to go away from anything that could be energized.
- Do not head to boat or dock ladders to get out.
If you are on the dock or shore when a swimmer feels electrical current:
- Do not jump in.
- Throw them a non-conductive flotation device.
- Unplug or turn off the source of electricity as quickly as possible.
- Call for help and 9-1-1.
