After children's electrocution deaths, Tennessee passes marina safety bill
ESFI urges other states to do the same
The Tennessee General Assembly has enacted a marina safety law intended to protect state residents from electric shock injuries and drowning deaths near marinas and boat docks.
Introduced as the "Noah Dean and Nate Act" in January 2014, the legislation is named in memory of 10-year-old Noah Dean Winstead and 11-year-old Nate Lynam who died from electrical injuries they suffered on July 4, 2012 at a marina near Morristown, Tenn. An inspection after the incident determined that the marina lacked Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs), which protect against fatal shocks by shutting down electricity before it can leak into the water.