Summer, swimming and boating are all synonymous with having a good time on the water. Whether you are on a boat or on a dock, when the heat of the sun kicks into high gear, your first impulse is to head for the water.
Swimming off a boat or dock can be refreshing, but safety has to be the first consideration. Unfortunately, it is the swimming accidents and statistics about these accidents that stick in our minds.
What to do if you see Electric Shock Drowning
According to ESFI, The Electrical Safety Foundation International, a premier non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to promoting electrical safety at home and in the workplace, the following should regarding potential Electric Shock Drowning:
Do not enter the water.
• Turn off the source of power
• Call 911
• Use an insulated device (such as fiberglass rescue crook) to attempt to remove the victim from the water
If a swimmer is experiencing difficulty, such as paralysis, don't let anyone jump in the water! Get the dock power turned off immediately. Most docks have an emergency shut off switch. Contact your dockmaster for its location, or about getting one installed. Anyone using the dock should know where the emergency switch is located.
To assist the swimmer who has been shocked, get a nonmetal device. Stay away from the dock's metal swim ladders.
Electricity can seep into the water from a boat, hot tub, pool or marina. Swimmers can also experience electric shock when reaching for a metal ladder (mentioned above) that has been in the water with electrical current.
The Electric Shock Drowning Prevention Association, an organization dedicated to raising awareness and educating people on the risks of electric shock drowning, has recorded 84 cases in the U.S. since 1986. It may seem like a low number of fatalities, but if it is someone you love who dies, one death is too many.
The best way to avoid electric shock is to install ground fault devices on power sources at the breaker.
A ground fault device protects the entire power source from its start and prevents the current from following any unintended paths during a ground fault (contact between an energized conductor and the ground).
Swimming off the dock in a marina. 
Please don't do it. It is a dangerous adventure that can quickly turn fatal. Electric Shock Drowning (ESD), will most likely be fatal. It happens when 120-volt AC (alternating current) from nearby boats, or docks electrocutes or incapacitates swimmers in freshwater. As swimmers enter the water the electricity
paralyzes their muscles, causing the person to drown.
Swimming off a boat 
Electric Shock Drowning happens in freshwater and many times involves a swimmer making contact with a metal ladder that is electrically charged. If a swimmer is attempting to board your boat and feels any tingling or paralysis:
• don't jump in the water
• turn off all power on the boat
• Call 911, the marine police, coast guard, or coastguard auxiliary to get help underway.
• Use wooden oars or some nonmetal objects to rescue the swimmer.
More safety features when swimming off a boat
• With swimmers in the water, one adult who knows how to operate the boat should be on board at all times.
• All engines should be off before swimmers enter the water
• A flotation device attached to a tow rope or line secured to the boat should be in the water for a swimmer to grab if needed.
Keeping your boat safe
- Talk to marina owners or operators about the danger of ESD. Ask your marina operator to prohibit swimming at their facility and post signs.
- Ask marina operators if they are aware of and following the guidelines from NFPA 303 (Fire Protection Standard for Marinas and Boatyards) and National Electric Code (NEC) 555.
- Never use household extension cords on your boat. Shore power cords meeting UL standards are required.
- Your boat can be tested and inspected for electricity leaks by a qualified electrician trained to ABYC standards.
- Whether in freshwater or saltwater, never dive on your boat for repairs while connected to shore power.
ESD How does it happen 
ESD is caused by alternating current (AC) flowing through fresh water encountering a human body. The current tries to pass through the body and causes skeletal muscular paralysis, which ultimately results in a drowning. The above picture shows you how the current flows.
There are many devices that can be installed in the water near your boat, dock or pool to detect electrical leaks that could lead to electric shock. One example is. It is used for boats, pools, and marinas. The ShockAlarm is easy to test and continually monitors while in the water. One user said it had detected electricity in the water on several occasions before swimmers were about to enter. Users suggest that this alarm is in the water at all times when swimmers are present.
Swimming during the summer or anytime should be enjoyable, refreshing, and safe. Have a great summer on the water.
Fair Winds. Smooth Sailing.
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To obtain more information about the products and services mentioned in this article, please contact CLR Marine https://www.clrmarine.com/.
Award-winning author Cheryl Kuba has been at the helm for more than 30 years sailing the Great Lakes, with side trips to the British Virgin Islands and St. Maarten. She has served as past- Commodore of Great Lakes Fleet 21 -Chicago region. 3happycampers.com
©Copyright Cheryl Kuba, 3happycampers.com, 2020
