07/22/2015 Ed Lethert Electric Shock Drowning
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Drowning
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Thanks to
Gary Hughes
Greg Nybeck
LMCD Board
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Edward "Ed" Lethert
Electric Shock Drowning
Safety Specialist
New Hope, MN
www.electricshockdrowningmn.com
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Background Lakeshore Weekly News Article
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Lake Minnetonka Boater
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Member: Minnetonka Power Squadron
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ELECTRIC SHOCK DROWNING
PREVENTION ASSOCIATION
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AWARENESS
PREVENTION
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This evening's presentation
• Non-Technical
• A subset of the complete ESD
Presentation (approx 1½ hours)
• The full presentation can be made to
interested entities upon request
7
Thanks
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Questions
Questions and comments are welcome
and encouraged immediately following
the presentation
Presenter will also be available after the
meeting to address additional questions
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Thanks to Capt. David Rifkin and Kevin
Ritz for permission to use some of their
material.
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Of all the people I have spoken with, almost no
one appears to have heard of Electric Shock
Drowning
Recent Question to Lakeshore Property Owner:
"Is the circuit that powers your
electrically operated boat lift
protected by a Ground Fault Circuit
Interrupter?"
Response:
"I have no idea."
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Electric Shock Drowning
Objectives … To Answer the Following
• What is Electric Shock Drowning?
(also known as "ESD")
• What conditions can cause ESD?
• Can water leakage currents or voltage
gradients be detected or measured?
• Are there serious danger thresholds?
• Are there standards, policies and
procedures for minimizing the risk of ESD?
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Applicable Installations/Facilities
• Marina Facilities
• Private Docks *
• RV Parks, Campgrounds, etc.
• Swimming pools, spas, ponds, etc.
• Submersible Pumps
• Agricultural – Irrigation Canals
• Manhole covers – (New York City - "Street Zaps")
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This subject material applies directly to
ANY environments where electric circuits
and equipment operate in, on, or near a
body of water
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Why Cause for Concern?
• Increase in use of electrically operated
equipment in and around recreational (and
non-recreational) waters
• Increase in Do-It-Yourself electrical work by
unqualified individuals
• Lack of inspections by the Authority Having
Jurisdiction (electrical inspections)
• Less caution exercised by the public
• More litigious culture
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ESD Victims
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Lost to ESD
Comment: Samantha Chipley Article
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Marcus Colburn, age 21, died as a result of ESD on Father’s Day, June 21st, 2015
Lost to ESD
Comment: Circuit Breaker
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James D. Shafer and Capt. David Rifkin (USN,
Ret) have compiled a database of known ESD
incidents going back as far as the mid-1980s
It's the only known list of its kind
It is updated by Capt. Rifkin as each new ESD related incident becomes known
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It is believed that the
actual number of ESD
fatalities is much higher
than known or reported
as paralysis due to small
electric currents passing
through the body is not
recognizable post-
mortem as the cause of
the drowning
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Electrical Safety
Around Water
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This goes without saying
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As does this … I hope
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The possibility of an in-the-water shock
hazard exists wherever shore-powered
AC electrical equipment is located in the
water, over the water, or near the water
Awareness of and mitigation of in-water
shock hazards (the cause of ESD) is of
vital importance
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National Electrical Code
90.1 Purpose.
(A) Practical Safeguarding. The purpose
of this Code is the practical safeguarding
of persons and property from hazards
arising from the use of electricity. …
2014 NEC (NFPA 70)
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"practical safeguarding of persons"
• Standards — Laws — Regulations
WV, TN, KY, MO, etc. MN?
• Quality and Skilled Workmanship
• Inspection by Competent Authority
• Ongoing Monitoring and Inspection
• EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC Comment: Legislative actions
MN DLI Electrical Inspections Div
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Electric Shock
Drowning
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Electric Shock Drowning (ESD) is a unique
form of drowning caused by waterborne
alternating currents (AC)
These currents can produce dangerous
voltage gradients in the water
The voltage gradients can cause an
electrical current to flow through the
body of an individual in the water
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The thru-body current produced by the
voltage gradient, if sufficiently high, can
paralyze the body's muscles, inhibiting
one's ability to swim, or even to move
one's limbs … or worse
The outcome in most ESD cases is that an
otherwise healthy individual drowns
(water in the lungs)
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These thru-body currents, depending on
their magnitude, can:
• Paralyze skeletal muscles
• Cause respiratory paralysis (shut down
the lungs)
• Initiate ventricular fibrillation
• Result in full cardiac arrest
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ESD is not exactly the same as death by
electrocution, which usually results from
direct contact with energized metal
objects or surfaces
In-water electrocutions are included in
the definition of ESD because they are
caused by the same fault conditions that
cause an ESD fatality
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According to OSHA, an AC current as
small as 6 mA through the body can
begin to affect muscle control
It is generally agreed that 10 mA of AC
current flowing through the body (0.01
amperes) is the threshold at which the
current could be considered potentially
lethal
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US Dept. of Labor: OSHA – "How Electrical Current Affects the Human Body"
www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/construction/electrical_incidents/
eleccurrent.html
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Mechanism Typical AC Current
Loss of arm/leg muscle control:
Average female 10 mA
Loss of arm/leg muscle control:
Average male 16 mA
Paralysis of breathing muscles 20 mA
Heart fibrillation 100 mA
"Conduction of Electrical Current to and Through the Human Body: A Review"
Richard M Fish, PhD, MD, FACEP and Leslie A Geddes, MS, PhD, DSc,
Eplasty, v9(2009)
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One 60 watt, 120 volt incandescent light
bulb draws 500 milliamperes of current
… 50 times more than the 10 mA that
can paralyze an individual in the water
By way of comparison …
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What about pets and other critters?
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Animals are not immune to the effects of
these water-borne currents
ESD has claimed family pets that have
entered these charged waters
and
Individuals have fallen victim to ESD
when entering the water in an attempt
to rescue their pets
Example – Irrigation canal deaths
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A Monumental ESD Tragedy
Friday Aug 31, 2012
Track coach [woman], two men
[one a relative], 1 dog [family pet]
electrocuted in Idaho irrigation canal
Another family member attempting a rescue was shocked
but survived
Police say: "The electrified canal could have killed more"
They [canal experts] say it is virtually impossible to know
if water is electrified by sight or sound
Idaho Power shut off the power in the area so rescuers
could recover the bodies
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Solar Powered Boat Lift
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Direct Current (DC) is generally
not a concern, although it can
be a fire or burn hazard under
certain conditions
It takes from 2 to 5 times as
much direct current (DC) to cause the same
bodily effect as alternating current (AC)
12 and 24 volt DC systems are not able to
produce the water-borne currents or voltage
gradients necessary to create an ESD hazard
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Remember: An in-the-water shock hazard can exist
wherever shore-powered AC electrical
equipment is located in the water, over
the water, or adjacent to the water …
regardless of its function
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Water Leakage
Currents
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We know a whole lot more about ESD, water-borne
leakage currents and voltage gradients thanks to
the extensive and thorough investigative work of Capt. David Rifkin (USN, Ret) and James D. Shafer
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This significant and ground-breaking work by David
Rifkin and James Shafer, funded by the US Coast
Guard, has provided us with a wealth of data on In-
Water Shock Hazards and ESD
David Rifkin's research is ongoing and this 150+ page work is one that your presenter references often
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Available at www.qualitymarineservices.net
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Kevin Ritz is a major and long-time contributor
to ESD awareness, research and prevention.
He lost his son of 8 years, Lucas Ritz, in 1999 as the result of Electric Shock Drowning
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The research by David Rifkin and James
Shafer has shown that ESD is a fresh
water phenomenon
This is due principally to the much lower
conductivity (much higher resistance) of
fresh water
The greater part of the in-water current
will flow through the human body with a
lesser amount flowing around it
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Water Current
Water Current
Voltage Gradient = 23.8 Volts --- Very Lethal
Voltage Gradient
6 Ft
Fresh Water
Body Current
Curr
ent
Sourc
e
Body current is large relative to water current
Curr
ent
Sourc
e
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Causes of Water
Leakage Currents
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To establish dangerous levels of leakage
current flow in the water—and thus
produce the resulting lethal voltage
gradients—two conditions must be met
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First …
There must be some form of electrical
fault (hot to ground) at some point in the
AC system (AC powered wiring or equipment)
This will be a low level fault current as
opposed to the high level of current that
occurs as the result of a short circuit
The low level fault current is not enough
to trip a circuit breaker … so it remains
continuous and undetected
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Second …
There must be a failure in the shore
power bonding (grounding) system … the
equipment bonding/grounding path
• Total failure (open circuit)
• Very seriously
degraded wiring
or connection
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When these two conditions exist at the
same time, any underwater metals—
which are no longer bonded back to the
AC source—become energized to lethal
voltage levels
The difference in voltage between these
energized metals and the power source
ground establishes dangerous currents
and voltage gradients in the water
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A person finding themselves in this
"charged" water can experience a
dangerous AC current passing through
their body
When this current is high enough,
nominally in the range of 10 or more
milliamps (that's thousandths of an ampere),
paralysis is likely to occur, resulting in
the inability to remain afloat, followed
by drowning
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Invitation to an
ESD Incident
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One of the 'HOT' conductors
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Harbor Cove Marina, Duluth, MN
Which is why …
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Minnetonka Power Squadron
Island Facility, Lake Minnetonka
NO SWIMMING
OFF OF BOATS
OR DOCKS
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When Is It "Safe" to
Go Into the Water?
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Safe is defined in Webster's 1828
Dictionary as
1. Free from danger of any kind
2. Free from hurt, injury or damage
5. Placed beyond the power of doing
harm
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When is it "safe" to … ?
Careful consideration should be given to
any use of the word "safe" when working
or playing with or near electrically
connected equipment that is in, on or
near the water
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The term "safe" to enter the water is
risky in itself and should never be used
where and when shore power is installed
and used, or in the context of water
leakage currents
Example – BoatUS Article
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The term "degree of risk" would be more
suitable and excludes any inference that
somehow absolute safety is guaranteed
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So when is the risk of ESD "very low"?
Opinions vary somewhat, but there is
general agreement among experts that a
minimum distance of between 150 feet
and 300 feet from active AC electrical
systems would reduce the danger of ESD
to "very low risk" (and therefore
acceptable?) levels for recreational
activities
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It could be considered "very low risk" to
enter the water (for inspection,
maintenance and repair purposes) where
ALL nearby shore power is switched off
AT THE POWER SOURCE
This would include securing ALL nearby
on-board generators and inverters
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What about someone who falls into the
water inadvertently (or is just plain
careless regarding their well-being)?
There are some visual checks and
electrical tests that can be performed on
a regular basis to reduce the risk of in-
water shock for these individuals
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It is never "safe" to enter the water
in the vicinity of shore powered
watercraft or equipment … for any
reason … EVER! … while any nearby
circuits are energized!
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Checking the
Shore System
Wiring
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When checking the shore system at the dock
outlet, there is considerably more to it than
just checking for voltage and polarity
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More information is required which means
more sophisticated testing is required.
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Checking for
Leakage Current
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Hioki 3283
Excellent for ESD work
True RMS
Very accurate
Reads down to 0.01 mA
Cost is ≈ 350.00
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Prevention
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NO SWIMMING
OR WADING
DO NOT ENTER
THE WATER
RISK OF
ELECTRIC
SHOCK
Signage
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Ground Fault
Protection
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Class A GFCI Receptacle (5 mA Trip)
Ground Fault Protection
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Class A GFCI Breaker (5 mA Trip)
Ground Fault Protection
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Ground fault (GFCI protection required for
125V, 15 and 20 amp receptacle outlets:
• Swimming Pools (1971)
• Located Outdoors (1971) **
• Bathrooms (1973)
• Garages (1978)
• Spas and Hot Tubs – incl hardwired (1981)
• Boat Houses (1987) **
• Boat Hoists – incl hardwired (2005) **
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Disconnect Switch at Accessible Location
Ground Fault Protection
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EPO Switch for Marinas ?
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Codes and
Standards
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Marina
Power
Shore
Cord
NFPA 70
National Electrical Code
Article 555
Marinas and Boatyards
Mandatory Compliance
Required in Minnesota
Insure Compliance with Codes and Standards
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ARTICLE 555 — Marinas and Boatyards [2014 NEC]
555.1 Scope. This article covers the installation of wiring and
equipment in the areas comprising fixed or floating piers,
wharves, docks, and other areas in marinas, boatyards, boat
basins, boathouses, yacht clubs, boat condominiums, docking
facilities associated with residential condominiums, any multiple
docking facility, or similar occupancies, and facilities that are
used, or intended for use, for the purpose of repair, berthing,
launching, storage, or fueling of small craft and the moorage of
floating buildings.
Private, noncommercial docking facilities
constructed or occupied for the use of the
owner or residents of the associated single-
family dwelling are not covered by this article.
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ARTICLE 555 — Marinas and Boatyards
555.1 Scope. This article covers the installation of wiring and
equipment in the areas comprising fixed or floating piers,
wharves, docks, and other areas in marinas, boatyards, boat
basins, boathouses, yacht clubs, boat condominiums, docking
facilities associated with one-family dwellings,
two-family dwellings, multifamily dwellings, and residential condominiums, any multiple docking facility, or
similar occupancies, and facilities that are used, or intended for
use, for the purpose of repair, berthing, launching, storage, or
fueling of small craft and the moorage of floating buildings.
Proposed change in scope for inclusion in 2017 NEC
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Typical ESD Event
and Response
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Typical ESD Scenario
Victim enters the electrically charged water
… becomes partially or totally disabled
Victim may or may not remain conscious
Victim may not remain on surface
Victim may or may not call for help
Victim's situation can worsen when seeking a
"safe haven"
(moves toward rather than away from the source)
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Recommended Action for ESD Event
The victim …
should, if able, keep arms and legs close to
the body (this action reduces exposure to
the voltage gradient)
should, if able and possible, move back in
the direction from which they came — or
otherwise, move away from the presumed
current source
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Recommended Action for ESD Event
First responders/rescuers/bystanders …
should, if at all possible, switch off all dock
electrical power at the source
must fight the instinct to enter the water —
many well-meaning rescuers have died trying
to help ESD victims
must remember always to
Reach … Throw … Row …
But Don't Go (into the water)
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Recommended Action for ESD Event
First responders/rescuers/bystanders …
should throw life ring or other flotation
device, etc. to a conscious and able victim
should not throw a line to the victim and
then pull the victim closer to the current
source
Should push the victim away from the
presumed source with an insulated pole
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Recommended Action for ESD Event
First responders/rescuers/bystanders …
should attempt first aid/CPR where the
victim can be safely removed from the water
should call for help immediately — Dial 911
or call on VHF Channel 16 as appropriate
should know that there is currently no known
portable test device available to quickly
detect a hazardous condition in the water
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Training Recommended
ESD response training should be provided
for the following (at a minimum)
Law Enforcement
Firefighters
Emergency Medical Technicians
Marina Staff
Others?
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In Summary
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Remember:
An in-the-water shock hazard can
exist wherever shore-powered AC
electrical equipment is located in
the water, over the water, or
adjacent to the water
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The Cardinal Rule:
Do not enter the water in the
vicinity of shore powered watercraft
or equipment … for any reason …
EVER! … while any nearby electrical
equipment or circuits are energized!
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Please Take
a Brochure
Take One for
a Friend or
Neighbor
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More Information
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ELECTRIC SHOCK DROWNING
PREVENTION ASSOCIATION
www.electricshockdrowning.org/
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Quality Marine Services, LLC
www.qualitymarineservices.net
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ELECTRIC SHOCK DROWNING
RESOURCE CENTER
www.boatus.com/seaworthy/ESD.asp
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QUESTIONS ?
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Thank You
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Edward "Ed" Lethert
Electric Shock Drowning
Safety Specialist
New Hope, MN
www.electricshockdrowningmn.com
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