With warm weather here, many people will be swimming in pools or wading into water at boat ramps – both of which harbor a danger that most of us are unaware of. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is trying to change that, by raising the alarm about electric shock drowning (ESD), which happens when marina or onboard electrical systems leak electric current into the water. The current then passes through the body and causes paralysis. When this happens, a person can no longer swim and ultimately drowns.
Marinas aren’t the only places where electrical currents can move through the water: pools, hot tubs and spas are also potential danger spots.