Take Precautions To Avoid Electric Shock Drowning
Nashville, TN – For thousands of Tennesseans, summer means spending time with family and friends while swimming and boating. The Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office is ensuring residents have a safe summer by inspecting Tennessee’s public marinas and docks and reminding Tennesseans to take steps to prevent electric shock drowning (ESD).
Earlier this year, the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office began the first-ever inspections of the electrical wiring and equipment of Tennessee’s more than 300 public marinas and docks.
[1]Have your boat tested once a year to see if it is leaking electricity, or buy a clamp meter and test it yourself.
The inspections began with the passage of Senate Bill No. 1954/House Bill No. 1892 – known as the Noah Dean and Nate Act.
The law is intended to prevent accidents such as the one that occurred on July 4th, 2012 when the lives of Noah Dean Winstead, 10, and Nate Lynam, 11, were tragically cut short after the boys were electrocuted while swimming at the Cherokee Lake marina near Morristown.
“The families of Noah Dean Winstead and Nate Lynam were instrumental in bringing attention to a crucial safety need that is addressed by this law,” said Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak. “It is our hope that the marina inspection rules will prevent future tragedies from occurring.”
As part of the Noah Dean and Nate Act, all boat dock or marina operators must comply with new equipment requirements [2] preventing possible electrical shocks and electrocution. Additionally, permanent signage warning swimmers of electrical shock hazards must be installed near marinas.
While marina and dock inspections are ongoing, Tennesseans can take steps on their own to be aware of the dangers of ESD and how it can be avoided.
In General
- To retrieve a person in the water, reach, throw, and row, but do not go to them.
- Tell others about ESD. Most people have never heard of it and are unaware of its dangers.
- Make sure your children understand the importance of not swimming anywhere there could be electricity. Don’t let them roughhouse on docks.
- ESD victims are good candidates for successful Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Learn to perform CPR and maintain your training.
In Marinas
- Never swim within 100 yards of any freshwater marina or boatyard.
- Talk to marina owners or operators about the danger of ESD. Ask your marina operator to prohibit swimming at their facility and post signs.
If You Have A Boat
- Have your boat tested once a year to see if it is leaking electricity, or buy a clamp meter and test it yourself. If you find any problems, have your 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 your boat (refer them to the ABYC E-11 Standard) or use an ELCI in the shore power cord. As an alternative, install an isolation transformer on the boat.
- Test ELCI at least once a month or per the manufacturer’s specifications.
- Do not hire an electrician who is not familiar with ABYC standards to install electrical equipment on your boat. Many of the problems that lead to electrical faults result from the differences between shore and boat electrical systems and standards.
- Do not use common household extension cords for providing shore power to your boat. Use, and encourage other boaters to use, shore power cords built to UL standards.
- Never dive on your boat to work on underwater fittings when it is plugged in to shore power, even in saltwater.
If You Have A Private Dock
- Never swim within 100 yards of any dock using electrical power.
- If you have not electrified your dock or put an air conditioning system on your boat, weigh the risks carefully before doing so.
- If you need electricity on your dock, hire a licensed electrician and make sure the wiring meets the requirements. If your dock is already wired, hire an electrician to check that it was done properly. Because docks are exposed to the elements, their electrical systems should be inspected at least once a year.
- If you normally run a power cord from your house or garage to charge your batteries, make sure the outlet has a GFCI and include an ELCI somewhere in the shore power cord.
- Never swim off your dock without shutting down all shore power to the boat and the dock.
- Even if you adhere to all of these rules, nearby docks can still present a shock hazard. Educate your neighbors and work together with them to make the waterfront safe.
If You’re In The Water & Feel Tingling or Shocks
- Do not follow your instinct to swim toward the dock.
- Let everyone know what’s happening so they’ll understand the danger and react appropriately.
- Try to stay upright and back out of the area the way you came. Warn any other swimmers in the area of the danger, and then head for shore 100 yards or more from the dock.
- Alert the dock or marina owner and tell them to shut the power off to the dock until they locate the problem and correct it.
- Go to the hospital to make sure there are no lingering effects that could be dangerous.
If You Have To Rescue An ESD Victim
- Know how to distinguish drowning from ESD. Tingling, numbness, and pain all indicate ESD.
- Fight the instinct to enter the water. Many rescuers have died trying to help ESD victims.
- Call for help. Use 911 or VHF Channel 16 as appropriate.
- Turn off the shore power connection at the meter base and/or unplug shore power cords.
- Get the victim out of the water. Remember to reach, throw, row, but don’t go.
- If the person is not breathing or you cannot find a pulse, perform CPR until the local fire department or emergency responders arrive.
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