Electric Shock Drowning Dangers (2024)

Don't swim around any dock that has electric power. And how to save yourself if you're getting shocked in the water!

Spring has sprung! Last month we had 72 degree weather for days IN MARYLAND! Wow, that’s crazy for Maryland mid-March. The motorcycles and convertibles were out on the streets, the Lenten roses and crocus in our garden were blooming, and I’m doing a little grilling with my pellet smoker.

Don’t Swim Around Boat Docks!

And as I was driving by the Potomac River I even noticed a few boats out on the water. So since spring is officially here, now is a great time to remind you about the dangers of ESD or Electric Shock Drowning.

What is Electric Shock Drowning (ESD)?

Well, it’s a close cousin to a Hot-Skin Voltage on an RV, but in many ways much more dangerous. While a Hot-Skin happens on an RV that’s parked on dry land, an ESD occurs in freshwater near docks that have 120-volt electric power for lighting or shore power. This “Hot-Dock” voltage creates a danger zone for anyone swimming or even getting into the water near a boat dock that has electrical outlets or lighting.

Why is it dangerous?

Basically, any object that’s connected to 120-volts AC and making contact with the water can cause the water to be energized with an electrical gradient that reaches out dozens of feet from the point of contact.

Since freshwater is a pretty poor electrical conductor, this voltage gradient will extend out dozens of feet before it fully “grounds” itself. And if you or a family member gets in this voltage gradient, your arms and legs can become paralyzed.

What happens?

That’s when you can simply sink and drown without being able to save yourself. Anyone jumping in to save you will also be incapacitated and can drown. There have been instances where several family members have drowned from ESD while trying to save the family dog.

What about saltwater shocks?

That’s a slightly different danger, but still deadly. Since saltwater is much more conductive than freshwater, the voltage gradient field around an ocean dock is much smaller. However, if you’re submerged in saltwater and touch a boat or metal conduit on a dock that’s electrified by an Reverse Polarity Bootleg Ground or other fault, you will have much more current flowing thorough your body.

So while a freshwater shock can kill you slowly further away from the dock, a saltwater shock can kill you quicker when you’re in the water and touch a boat or dock energized with a hot-skin voltage.

How to save someone from Electric Shock Drowning

DO NOT jump in the water in an attempt to save someone getting shocked. Call 911 immediately, then try to get the electric power turned off. It’s best to throw them a life preserver on a rope if you have one and they’re still conscious.

And I’ve noted before, your arms become a dipole antenna if you have them stretched out, so if you can get the victim to pull their arms in close to their side, that should help reduce the paralyzing effects for a few seconds. And that may be long enough for them to grab a life preserver. DO NOT jump in yourself as you’ll become paralyzed as well.

Call 911 first before you attempt any rescue

Things can go very badly in only a few seconds, so call 911 first, tell them your exact location and situation, and follow their advice. And make sure that everyone else stays out of the water. I’ve read about situations where six would-be rescuers died one at a time while attempting to save an ESD victim.

And if you do rescue someone who was being shocked in the water, please get them checked out by First Responders ASAP. While ESD rarely causes heart fibrillation from electric shock, if someone in the water touches an energized boat or metal dock, they can receive a huge shock that will stop their heart in seconds.

How to save yourself from Electric Shock Drowning

If you feel a tingle or your arms begin to feel heavy and paralyzed while swimming towards a dock, turn around and swim away in the other direction. Then find another spot to come ashore a hundred feet away from the dock. The closer you get to an energized dock or boat, the harder it will be to swim and you can sink before you make it. So find another way to come ashore.

That’s because no matter how strong of a swimmer you may be, once your arms and legs become paralyzed from electric current, you’re going to sink and go underwater. Many times they find ESD victims drowned within 10 feet of the dock.

Don’t swim around docks with electric power

While in many states the electrical code is now requiring GFCI protection on new boat docks, I wouldn’t trust my life to it. Plus, there are a number of ESD warning floats that are becoming popular. But these devices will only be as good as their maintenance schedule, and I’m not sure how much I trust that.

And realize there must be hundreds of thousands of existing docks that don’t have any sort of GFCI protection or ESD warning devices at all. So don’t risk it. Don’t swim anywhere near a boat dock or moored houseboat that has electric power. It’s just not worth the risk.

For more info on Electric Shock Drowning…

From Doug Modlin

Thanks Mike for spreading awareness of Electric Shock Drowning. I thought it might be helpful to provide a reference for those who would like to learn mores. The website of the Electrical Shock Drowning Prevention Association has some great references and videos on ESD causes and prevention.

Visit the Electrical Shock Drowning Prevention Association website HERE…

Let’s play (and swim) safe out there…- Mike