National Fire Protection Association Reminds Public to Swim Carefully This Summer to Prevent ESD

WITH SUMMER HERE AND THE JULY 4TH HOLIDAY WEEKEND JUST AROUND THE CORNER, THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION IS REMINDING PEOPLE ABOUT POTENTIAL ELECTRICAL HAZARDS THAT EXIST IN SWIMMING POOLS AND HOT TUBS, ONBOARD BOATS, ON DOCKS AND PIERS, AND IN WATERS SURROUNDING BOATS, MARINAS, AND LAUNCH RAMPS. WHILE MOST PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE OF ELECTRICAL DANGERS POSED IN WATER ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS ELECTRIC SHOCK DROWNING (ESD), EACH YEAR PEOPLE ARE INJURED OR KILLED FROM THESE HAZARDS. ESD CAN OCCUR WHEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR MAINTAINED ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WITHIN MARINAS OR BOAT ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS RESULT IN ELECTRICAL CURRENT IN THE WATER, WHICH CAN THEN PASS THROUGH A PERSON’S BODY, CAUSING A LEVEL OF PARALYSIS THAT CAN ULTIMATELY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DROWNING.

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