You did it! You have successfully sprung forward for another year. At least your friends at Dixie Electric, Plumbing & Air hope you remembered to set your clock ahead one hour for Daylight Savings Time. Some people may consider the time change an inconvenience, but it’s also a warning; spring is here, to be followed by another long summer.
Before you know it, you will be planning trips to the lake and parties by the pool. Now is the time to make sure you can do it safely. The combination of electricity and water can be deadly. We’re talking specifically about the threat posed by electric shock drowning, or ESD. Nearly a year ago two women died in Lake Tuscaloosa from ESD.
It usually happens near docks or marinas, but can also happen in your swimming pool. Another name for it is boat dock electrocution, but many times the victim is not electrocuted. Instead, he or she is paralyzed by the current and drowns. Even after an autopsy, many deaths are called unexplained drownings blamed on cramps or alcohol use because the electricity leaves no evidence.
When do you need to worry about electric shock? The answer is simple – ALWAYS! Recently there was a death blamed on an improperly grounded water heater inside the house. The electricity traveled thru the ground into the water, causing an electric shock with no warning. Just one example of why you need the expert electricians from Dixie Electric, Plumbing & Air in Montgomery, AL to inspect the wiring in your home and on your dock or pool.
According to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control, about 3,000 people drown every year. There’s no way of knowing how many are cases of ESD. A non-profit group is dedicated to preventing these tragedies, and the Electric Shock Drowning Prevention Association (ESDPA) has a website to educate and prevent ESD.
Dixie Electric, Plumbing & Air started out as an electrical contractor in Montgomery, AL, and when we added plumbing services in 2012, we coined the phrase electricity and water do mix. But that’s only true because we have highly trained electricians and plumbers in Montgomery, AL who can safely work on your electrical and plumbing systems. In the real world, electricity near water can be a deadly combination. As we are rapidly approaching another boating and swimming season, make sure you share this warning about electric shock drowning with your friends and neighbors. You may be saving a life.
