Just one month ago in April 2016, Carmen Johnson, a 15 year-old cheerleader from Priceville High, Alabama, and her friend Raegan Gargis jumped from a family boating dock in Winston County after a day of picnicking in the warm Spring weather. But immediately, it was apparent to Carmen’s father, also present at the time, that something was seriously wrong. The girls screamed out for help but were completely submerged within seconds of hitting the water. Sadly, Carmen never resurfaced and her lifeless body was recovered an hour later. While authorities were initially apprehensive to determine a definitive cause of the young woman’s death, it has now been revealed that this tragedy, like so many others, was completely avoidable.It seems that Carmen’s untimely death was the result of a silent and little-known, but unfortunately all too common killer – Electric Shock Drowning, or ESD, the phenomenon that occurs when a swimmer comes into contact with an electrical current while in the water, the shock incapacitating them and causing them to drown.
The tragic death of Carmen Johnson highlights a problem that is perpetuated by a disastrous level of ignorance on the part of public, mostly due to an absence of accurate reporting in the media. Every year, more and more of these cases happen all over the country yet little is done to address the growing issue, and as the height of the Summer season quickly approaches, more and more people will be exposing themselves to the dangers of Electric Shock Drowning and other possible safety risks as they flock to the beaches for fun in the sun. Swimmers and boaters alike have a part to play in the growing threat as both victims and unwitting perpetrators. owners of diesel vessels both large and small need to be aware of the potential dangers that their boats and docks pose to themselves and others. Without following proper vessel safety and maintenance, the risks of being involved in, or worse yet even, responsible for an instance of Electric Shock Drowning or other potentially fatal accident increase exponentially. Fortunately, there is a way to reduce this growing threat – by educating the public. We believe that it is time for that sad fact to change. As part of the Electric Safety Foundation International’s National Electric Safety Month of May, we at RPM Diesel Services will be offering some tips on how to avoid this dangerous invisible killer and keep your family from experiencing another similar tragedy.
Electric Shock Drowning occurs when a swimmer comes into contact with an alternating current circulating through the water, causing instant paralysis. The shock itself rarely causes death, but instead incapacitates the swimmer long enough for them to sink. Unable to recover, the victim drowns. Imagine dropping an active toaster into a bathtub – it is the same concept. And while that seems like an odd thing to occur in the real world, it is not as uncommon as one would think. But where does the deadly electricity come from? These electric currents typically leak into the surrounding water from boats and their docks due to damaged or frayed wiring, improperly wired electronic systems, or malfunctioning or damaged grounding systems. Because electric currents naturally attempt to return to their sources via the path of least resistance, the highly conductive bodies of swimmers are in danger as the current moves along its intended path. However, this is far more likely to occur in fresh water than it is in salt water – as fresh water does not make a very conductor, the electrical current will look for the next best thing, in this case a swimmer. This makes swimming in lakes near a boat dock extremely dangerous. To make matters worse, it requires very little electricity to incapacitate a swimmer. Just one third the amount of electricity required to light a 40-watt light bulb can kill a full grown adult in a matter of seconds, so you can never be too careful.
Unfortunately, as electricity is not safely detectable to the naked eye, there is no readily apparent way to tell if a body of water is safe to enter or not. However, by being aware of your surroundings the potential dangers that your environment could pose, you can greatly reduce the chances of you or your family being injured by electrical currents and other safety hazards in the water. As a general rule, it is advised that one should never swim within 100 feet of any fresh water dock or marina – this will put you safely out range of a potential electrical current leak. For boat owners, there’s even more that you can do to keep yourself, those around you, and your vessel safe. Regularly check your vessel for electricity leaks with a clamp meter as well as keeping up with regular maintenance – and if any of that should be electrical in nature, always make sure that all of the work is performed by a qualified electrician. Also avoid using household cables and extension cords for your marine purposes. Electric Shock Drowning cannot be eradicated, but by staying vigilant and arming yourself with knowledge, you’ll be able to safely enjoy the water this summer.
