Electric Shock Drowning Explained

7/30/2019 Electric Shock Drowning Explained

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6 Seaworthy | July 2013 www.BoatUS.com/insurance

One year ago, v Futh

Jul wkd, alxd

ads, 13, d h bth

Bd ads, 8, w swim-

mi pivt dck i th Lk

th ozks i Missui wh th

sttd t scm. Thi pts wt

t thi id, but b th tim th siblis

w pulld m th lk, th w

uspsiv. Bth child w p-

ucd dd t bi tsptd

t b hspitl. abut tw hus

lt, nh Wistd, 10--ld b,

did i simil m t Chk

Lk, Kxvill, Tss. ac-

cdi t lcl pss pts, sv

th swimms w ijud

wh nh did. Ths w t

dwi victims. I ll ths css,

120-vlt aC (ltti cut)

lk m b bts dcks

lctcutd icpcittd swim-

ms i sh wt. This littl-kw

d t-uidtid kill is clld

elctic Shck Dwi, eSD, d

ths dths d ijuis w til

pvtbl. I just u mths lst

summ, th w sv cmd

eSD dths d t lst tht m

misss; i ll liklihd, dzs

m icidts wt udtctd. ev

bt d v dult wh swims i

shwt lk ds t udstd

hw it hpps, hw t stp it m

hppi, d wht t d — d t t

d — i th v hv t hlp eSD

victim.

Fresh water + alternating

current = Danger

Kvi ritz lst his s Lucs t eSD

i 1999, d h shd his st with

Seaworthy i “a Pvtbl Dcksid

Td” i octb 2009. Sic his

s’s dth, ritz hs bcm tilss

ivstit, duct, d cmpi

ddictd t pvti simil t-

dis. “eSD hpps i sh wt

wh miut muts ltti

cut pst,” ritz sid.

Wht ds “miut” m xctl?

Lthl muts msud i mil-

limps, thusdths mp.

Wh wi dictl thuh th

hum bd, ths ti muts

cut it with th v smll

lcticl pttils usd b u vs

d muscls. Cpti Dvid rii

d Jms Sh cductd xt-

siv tsti ll spcts eSD

Cst gud stud i 2008, icludi

xpsi thmslvs t lw-lvl cu-

ts i sh wt. “athi bv

3 millimps (ma) c b v piul,”

rii sid. “I u hd v 6 ma -

i thuh u bd, u wuld b

i izi pi.” Lss th thid

th lcticit usd t liht 40-wtt

liht bulb — 100 ma — pssi dictl

thuh th ht is lmst lws tl.

Wh sh wt d t slt? Slt-

wt is wh m 50 t 1,000

tims m cductiv th sh

wt. Th cductivit th hum

bd wh wt lis btw th tw,

but is much cls t sltwt th

sh. I sltwt, th hum bd

l slws lcticit dw, s mst

it will ud swimm its

w bck t ud ulss th swim-

m bs hld smthi — lik

ppll swim ldd — tht’s lc-

tid. I sh wt, th cut ts

“stuck” ti t tu t its suc

d ts vlt dits tht

will tk shtcut thuh th hum

bd. a vlt dit just 2 vlts

aC p t i sh wt c dliv

sucit cut t kill swimm wh

bids it. M s wtshds

d ivs m b slt, bckish,

sh dpdi up ill tidl

mvmts. I u bt i ths s,

tt th wt s i it w sh just t

b th s sid.

Wh ltti cut d t

dict cut (DC)? Th ccli tu

ltti cut disupts th ti

lcticl sils usd b u vs

d muscls m th th stiht

w lcts i dict cut. “It

wuld qui but 6 t 8 vlts DC

p t t b dus,” rii sid,

th t u tims s much vlt

dit s with aC. “rdlss th

tp vlt, th l th vlt,

th l th dit v th sm

distc.” Th hv b cdd

eSD tlitis m 12-vlt DC v

i sh wt bcus th is lss

chc th hih vlt dit

css dvlpi with DC’s lw

vlts.

Hw ds tht lcticit t it

th wt i th st plc? I pp-

l uctii lcticl sstm, ll

th 120-vlt aC cut tht s it

th bt thuh th sh pw cd

ESD ExainedWhat every boater needs to know about Electric Shock Drowning

by Beth A. Leonard

CurrentLevel Probable Effect On Human Body

1 mA Perception level. Slight tingling sensation. Still dangerous under certain conditions.

5 mA Slight shock elt; not painul but disturbing. Average individual can let go. How-ever, strong involuntary reactions to shocks in this range may lead to injuries.

6-16 mA Painul shock, begin to lose muscular control. Commonly reerred to as the reez-ing current or let-go range.

17-99 mA Extreme pain, respiratory arrest, severe muscular contractions . Individual cannotlet go o an electrifed object. Death is possible.

100- Ventricular fbrillation (uneven, uncoordinated pumping o heart). Muscular2,000 mA contraction and nerve damage begin to occur. Death is likely.

2,000+ mA Cardiac arrest, internal organ damage, and severe burns. Death is probable. S u c e : o S H a



www.BoatUS.com/insurance July 2013 | Seaworthy 7

tus t its suc — th tsm

sh th dck wh it iit-

d. F tht cut t wid up i

th wt, th this hv t ccu.

• Eecica a. Smwh cut

must b scpi m th sstm

d ti t id th pth bck

t its suc sh.

• AC sae ond a. Th aC

udi sstm must b cmp-

misd s tht st cut ct

sil tu t ud thuh th

ud st wi. a st lctic-

it th hs l pth bck t its

suc — thuh th wt.

• No ond a oecion. a

cut tui t its suc

thuh th wt will ct sliht

but dtctbl dic btw th

mut cut tvli t th

bt d tui m it thuh

th sh pw cbls. gud Fult

Ptcti (gFP) dvics, lik gud

Fult Cicuit Itupts (gFCIs)

quid i bthms sh, d-

sid t dtct dics msud

i millimps d t shut dw th

lcticit withi cti sc-

d. I th cicuit ds t hv ,

th lcticit will ctiu t lw

it th wt.

I ll ths cditis xist, th

sm ll th bt’s udwt

mtls, such s th ppll, st

div, thuh-hull ttis, will b

izd, d lcticit will dit

ut m ths ttis it th wt. I

th bt is i sltwt, th cut will

dissipt withut di dm u-

lss div bs hld th izd

mtl. I sh wt, 120-vlt aC will

st up dus vlt dit

tht will pss thuh swimm

wh bids it.

FinDing Out iF YOur BOat

is leaking current

Fiui ut i u bt hs

pblm quis tw spcil-

izd tls — bsic cicuit ts-

t d clmp mt — tht

tth cst but $150. I u

kp u bt i shwt

mi, th mi pt shuld

hv bth d b usi thm t chck

th bts thi dcks.

T dtmi i u bt is lk-

i aC, stt b chcki th dck

wii. Plu th cicuit tst it th

sh pw cd cptcl u us

u pdstl. Th lihts th cicuit

tst will tll u whth t th

sh pw sstm is uctii s

it shuld. Th situtis wh

ths lihts c misld u, but s

st ppximti, ssum ll is wll

i th cicuit tst ss it is. I u d

pblms, lt u mi m-

cll lctici ctid t

aByC (ami Bt d ycht Cu-

cil) stdds.

oc u hv stblishd tht th

dck’s lcticl sstm is sud, tk

th clmp mt d put it ud u

sh pw cd. Mst lcticis us

clmp mt t msu th cut

wi thuh th utl, ht, d

ud wis sptl, but w

itstd i whth t ll th

cut ti th bt is lvi it.

I tht is th cs, th cut pssi

thuh ll th wis will sum t z,

d tht’s wht th mt will shw

wh th clmp is put ud th ti

sh pw cd. I th clmp mt

shws thi but z, ith sm

th cut i t u bt is t-

i th wt, cut lki m

th dck th bt is tui t

its suc sh thuh th mtl t-

tis u bt. T dtmi which,

tu f th pw t th pdstl. I

th clmp mt ctius t shw th

sm di it did wh th pdstl

ws , th cut is cmi m

smwh ls. I ll th cu-

t s w, th u bt is lk-

i sm cut it th wt.

Ututl, tht’s t quit ll

th is t it. M th mst d-

us aC lds bt, lik i cdi-

tii d iti, ccli

lds. a ult i ths will l

shw up i tht quipmt is ui

wh u clmp th cd. T b su

u bt is t lki aC it th

wt, u must u ll u aC lds

whil clmpi th cd d lk

di but z. I u d pb-

lm, uplu u bt d d’t plu

it i i util u t lctici

tid t aByC stdds t u ut

wht is w d x it.

eliminating current leakage

Tht u bt is t lki aC it th

wt iht w is ut tht it

v will. elcticl ults d ud

ults dvlp i th mi vi-

mt ll th tim. Th tw ws t

limit th isk ltth.

Th st — d bst — lttiv is t

cmpltl islt th aC sh pw

sstm m th aC sstm th bt.

Th st aC th bt will -

tu t its suc th bt d will t

t th wt. a islti tsm

tss lcticit m th sh t th

bt d bck i usi th mtic

ld td b th lcticl cut

th th thuh sh wis phsi-

cll tuchi th bt’s wis. I u

wt t b bslutl cti u bt

ct lk ltt-

i cut it th

wt, istll isl-

ti tsm.

Th scd lt-

tiv is t istll ud

C u t e s y D v i d r i f i n

For stray AC to get into the water, there

must be an electrical ault and a ault inthe saety ground.

Top: An inexpensive circuit tester.

Bottom: This clamp meter shows a

7-amp diference between the current

going into the boat and coming out.

C u t e s y D v i d r i f i n



8 Seaworthy | July 2013 www.BoatUS.com/insurance

IN gENErAl

n ESD victims are good candidates or successul Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).Learn to perorm CPR and maintain your training.

n To retrieve a person in the water, reach, throw, and row, but don’t go. n Tell others about ESD. Most people have never heard o it and are unaware o the danger.n Make sure your children understand the importance o not swimming anywhere there

could be electricity. Don’t let them roughhouse on docks. Tell them what to do i they eela tingling or shock in the water (see below).

IN mArINAS

n NEVER swim within 100 yards o any reshwater marina or boatyard.n Talk to marina owners or operators about the danger o ESD. Ask your marina operator

to prohibit swimming at their acility and post signs.n Ask marina operators i they are aware o and ollowing the guidelines rom NFPA 303 (Fire

Protection Standard or Marinas and Boatyards) and National Electric Code (NEC) 555.

If yOu hAvE A bOAtn Have your boat tested once a year to see i it is leaking electricity, or buy a clamp meter

and test it yoursel. I you fnd any problems, have your boat inspected by a qualifedelectrician trained to ABYC standards.

n Have a qualifed ABYC electrician install an ELCI on your boat (reer them to the ABYC

E-11 Standard) or use an ELCI in the shore power cord. As an alternative, install an isola-tion transormer on the boat. n Test the GFCI/ELCI at least once a month or per the manuacturer’s specifcations. n DO NOT do your own 120-volt AC electrical work on a boat or hire an electrician who is

not amiliar with ABYC standards to do it. Many o the problems that lead to electrical aultsresult rom the dierences between shore and boat electrical systems and standards.

n DO NOT use common household extension cords or providing shore power to your boat.Use, and encourage other boaters to use, shore power cords built to UL standards.

n NEVER dive on your boat to work on underwater fttings when it is plugged in to shorepower, even in saltwater.

If yOu hAvE A prIvAtE DOCkn NEVER swim within 100 yards o ANY dock using electrical power!n I you have not electrifed your dock or put an AC system on your boat, weigh the risks

careully beore doing so.n I you need electricity on your dock, hire a licensed electrician and make sure the wiring

meets the requirements in NFPA 303 and NEC 555. I your dock is already wired, hirean electrician to check that it was done properly. Because docks are exposed to the ele-ments, their electrical systems should be inspected at least once a year.

n Exercise your GFCIs/ELCIs as recommended by the manuacturer.n I you normally run a power cord rom 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.n NEVER swim o your dock without shutting down all shore power to the boat and the dock.n Even i you adhere to all o these rules, nearby docks can still present a shock hazard.

Educate your neighbors and work together with them to make the waterront sae.

If yOu’rE IN thE wAtEr AND yOu fEEl tINglINg Or ShOCkSn DO NOT ollow your instinct to swim toward the dock! n SHOUT! Drowning victims cannot speak, let alone shout. Let everyone know what’s hap-

pening so they’ll understand the danger and react appropriately.n Try to stay upright and back out o the area the way you came, warn any other swimmers

in the area o the danger, and then head or shore 100 yards or more rom the dock.

n Alert the dock or marina owner and tell them to shut the power o to the dock until theylocate the problem and correct it.

n Go to the hospital to make sure there are no lingering eects that could be dangerous.

If yOu hAvE tO rESCuE AN ESD vICtImn Know how to distinguish drowning rom ESD (see Alert or how to recognize “normal”

drowning; tingling, numbness, or pain all indicate ESD). n Fight the instinct to enter the water — many rescuers have died trying to help ESD victims.n Call or help. Use 911 or VHF Channel 16 as appropriate. n Turn o the shore power connection at the meter base and/or unplug shore power cords.n Get the victim out o the water. Remember to reach, throw, row, but don’t go.n I the person is not breathing or you cannot get a pulse, perorm CPR until the Fire

Department, Coast Guard, or ambulance arrives.

Eecic Soc Donin: wa yo Need to kno

ult ptcti i th bt’s d th

dck’s aC sstm tht will shut f

th cut i th mut lcticit

i ut difs b cti mut

m tht tui. “Th eup,

austli d nw Zld stdds

qui ud ult ptcti m-

i’s mi ds d pw pdstls,”

rii sid. “Th’v hd z eSD tli-

tis i th l 30 s th’v hd

this i plc.” I th U.S., nFPa (ntil

Fi Ptcti assciti) 303 (Fi

Ptcti Stdd Mis d

Btds) quis gFP dvics tht

tip t 100 ma lw ll dcks.

But ths dvics c b xpsiv t

tt d miti i l mi,

d t b tstd mthl t kp

thm wki ppl, d subjct

t uisc tips i th mi vi-

mt, s th quimts hv t

b dptd cd uiml t

th lcl lvl.

Th aByC md ud ult

ptcti bts pt th e-11

lcticl stdd this . equipmt

Lk Cicuit Itupts (eLCIs)

tht tip t 30 ma t b istlld

ll w vssls built t aByC stdds,

but v w ld bts quippd

with thm. Cmpis lik nth Sh

St hv sttd t f s t t-

t eLCIs d UL-ppvd cds with

ittd eLCIs — ths u m $200

t $400. Hm buildi supplis lik

Lw’s sll 15-mp pitils quippd

with gFCIs ud $30. eith

ths culd b usd with sh pw

cd m hus t pivt dck t

ch bt’s bttis.

Sic his s did 14 s , Kv-

i ritz hs cmtd dzs milis

wh hv lst child s h hs, d h

hs cud thm t ji cs with

him t duct ths. His l is t put

himsl ut busiss. I ch d v-

bt tks spsibilit his

h bt, ritz culd t his wish..

To read Kevin Ritz’s heartbreaking story,and or a more technical discussion o ESD,go to www.BoatUS.com/Seaworthy/ESD

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Electric Shock Drowning Explained