Dear Mr. Electrician: What causes electric shock drowning?
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Answer: Electric Shock Drowning occurs when AC voltage in water passes through the human body.
ELECTRIC SHOCK FROM POOLS
If you experience a tingling sensation while in your pool, it could be a sign of electrical current present. This sensation can range from mild to severe and could be felt anywhere in the body. It is often accompanied by muscle weakness, cramps, or difficulty moving. The worst feeling is when you cannot move due to paralysis from electrical current.
The tingling sensation is caused by stray electrical current in the pool water. This can be due to faulty wiring, damaged electrical equipment, or improper installation of pool equipment. The current can be enough to cause harm or even death by electric shock drowning.
The first thing you should do is shut off power at the circuit breakers to all of the equipment associated with the pool such as the pump, pool heater, pool cover, audio system, and pool lights. This should prevent any further electrical current from entering the pool.
However, shutting off all the power to pool equipment may not stop the electricity in the water and prevent electric shock drowning as the problem may be somewhere else unrelated to the pool but somehow electricity is going through it.
Do not work on pool equipment barefooted. Having your feet in contact with the earth or concrete can cause you to receive an electrical shock.
If you see someone in the pool struggling or is unconscious, do not jump in to save them. You could get an electrical shock also. Use a wood or fiberglass pole with a big hoop to grab the person and pull them to the edge.
Keep all humans and pets away from the pool until the electrical shock problem is corrected by an electrician.
Regular maintenance of electrical equipment and pool systems is crucial to prevent any electrical shock drowning hazards in your pool. Have an electrician inspect your pool equipment regularly.
An electrician can test the pool bonding to make sure everything is at the same equipotential. See article 680.26 in the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70).
ELECTRICAL HAZARDS FROM BOATS
Do not swim in marinas or near docks that have electricity on them. Faulty boat wiring can cause stray electrical currents in the water.
It has been found that some electrical shock drownings occurred from do-it-yourself electrical wiring on boats. Naive boat owners are unaware of the electrical shock hazards that their boat modifications can cause.
Also, some marinas may not have the best maintenance of their electrical equipment and may be unaware of any electrical shock hazards present.
There is no way that you could know of any electrical shock hazards around boats before jumping in the water. So, do not swim near boats.
See article 555 in the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) to read about the electrical requirements for marinas and boatyards.
My article about the effects of electricity on the human body may be useful to you.
Pool bonding is important to reduce electrical shock drowning hazards. Read my pool bonding article.
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