Electric Shock Drowning - A Silent Killer

Keep your family safe around lakes and swimming pools this summer!

Every day, about 10 people in the U.S. die from accidental drowning, according to the CDC. But Electric Shock Drowning incidents are difficult to track. It's known as a "silent killer". The Electric Shock Drowning Prevention Association (ESDPA) was created to educate the public regarding ESD and its prevention.

Rule #1: NO SWIMMING near any dock or boat using AC power.
Rule #2: Follow codes and standards including ground fault protection where specified (these could be GFCIs or 30ma ground fault protection breakers). See Article 555.3 in the NEC.

Electric shock drowning (ESD) occurs when the human body acts as a conductor for AC electrical current in the water. It is particularly dangerous around water where electricity is being used (including docks and marinas, swimming pools, spas, fountains, and irrigation pumps among others).

ESD is not the same as death by electrocution, which usually results from direct contact with energized metal objects or surfaces. ESD is a unique form of drowning caused by the presence of AC electrical currents in feshwater lakes, rivers, pools, ponds. The current can flow through the body of a living being immersed in the electrically charged water. The current, where sufficiently intense, can paralyze the body's skeletal muscles, inhibiting the ability to swim or move one's limbs (i.e. electrically induced cramp). The outcome in many cases is the drowning death of an otherwise healthy individual.

In the opinion of the ESDPA, the risk of swimming around docks and boats using AC electricity is unacceptable. They recommend staying at least 150 feet away from any structure or equipment powered by AC in the water, or located on the waterfront.

Note that pools and spas are designed for swimming/bathing. They all require GFCI protection and proper grounding systems. They are normally not subject to the harsh marine environment associated with docks and marinas. But there are still accidents occurring in swimming pools, inevitably because systems are not up to the current codes and standards and GFCIs are not tested periodically as required by the manufacturer. The environment around docks and marinas is a different animal requiring special concerns and cautions.

Never use codes and standards (nor any other sensing device) as a "Green Light" for swimming. Codes and standards will protect most people who accidentally end up in the water but they cannot be expected to protect swimmers near AC sources. And some devices are currently being marketed to alert a dock owner of voltage present in the water. These are fine to alert the owner of a dangerous situation requiring immediate attention for safety. But these are reactive, not predictive devices. Anyone in the water when the light turns from green to red could be injured or worse.

Ed Lethert and David Rifkin contributed to this article. Contact them for questions or additional information.
David Rifkin: qualitymarinesvcs@comcast.net
Ed Lelthert: elethert@gmail.com

Additional Resources:
Visit the website: Electric Shock Drowning Prevention Association
New book release: Electric Shock Drowning: Causes and Prevention by G.S. Cargill III