May 17-23 is National Safe Boating Week, and as Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial kick-off to summer, approaches, it is important to draw attention to these hazards and prepare for a safe season on the water. The Ritz family is working with Safe Electricity's Teach, Learn, Care TLC program to encourage everyone to learn how to avoid and prevent ESD.
The danger of an electrical current cannot be seen but may be silently lurking beneath the surface.
Kevin Ritz, Lucas’ father, advises people to avoid swimming in marinas or around docks with power, but in the event of a fall it's important to know how to respond to electricity in the water.
Swimmers who feel an electric current the water should shout to let others know, try to stay upright and swim away from anything that could be energized. People on the dock or shore should never jump into energized water water, instead they should throw the swimmer a float, try to eliminate the source of electricity as quickly as possible and then call for help.
Boat or dock owners can help prevent electrical incidents by inspecting and maintaining all electrical systems on or near the water. These measures are recommended for boats:
- A professional familiar with marine electrical codes, regardless of the boat size, should do all electrical system maintenance.
- Boats with alternating current (AC) systems should have isolation transformers or equipment leakage circuit interrupter (ELCI) protection, comply with American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) standards and be serviced by a certified technician.
- If a fuse blows continuously, do not replace it with a larger fuse; instead have it serviced by a professional.
- Check the boat's electrical system at least once a year. Boats should also be checked when something is added to or removed from their systems.
What you need to know about electrical safety and docks:
- Have a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) breaker installed on the circuit(s) feeding electricity to the dock. A GFCI will trip the circuit and cut off power quickly if there is a problem.
- The metal frame of docks should be bonded to connect all metal to the AC safety ground at the power source.
- Neighboring docks can also present a shock hazard. Inform neighbors of the need for safety inspections and maintenance. Marinas should comply with the National Electrical Code (NEC) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes.
- A professional electrical contractor familiar with marine codes and standards should preform all electrical installations.
- Dock electrical systems should be inspected annually.
"Every time we have to go back and think about and talk about what happened, it's tough," said Lucas' mom, Sheryl Ritz, "but the reason that we do it is we keep tracking this stuff, and it's still happening. People don't know, and that was us 14 years ago."
Learn more and see Lucas' story at SafeElectricity.org