MetLife Boat Safety Tips

Powerline Hazards

Lightning isn't the only source of lethal doses of electricity. Among the most tragic and preventable boating accidents are those in which a boat strikes a powerline. Often, the boat doesn't necessarily have to touch a powerline to send a current of electricity through it. Certain conditions (such as high humidity and close proximity) will cause an arcing to take place through the surrounding air and possibly into the boat.

At Launching

Powerlines at launch ramps are especially hazardous to boaters. A tragedy occurred recently when a father and son were attempting to launch their small catamaran from a lakeside ramp. They were pushing the boat trailer by hand down the street from their cottage to the ramp incline, and failed to see the overhanging power lines. Prior to the boat ever reaching the water, both were electrocuted when the boat's mast touched one of the high voltage wires.

Look Up

Don't let a similar tragedy happen to you. LOOK UP to check for any overhead wires between your boat and the launching ramp before you even get near it. Make certain that you will not be raising the mast or antenna too near a powerline. Exercise particular caution at older boat ramps, since they have greater likelihood of having exposed powerlines strung near waterways.

Open Water

High tension transmission lines that cross reservoirs and other boating areas are also dangerous. If the tip of the mast or antenna should come close to one of these lines, the electrical current may be strong enough to bridge the gap and flow to the boat.

The fact that you have gone under the lines previously does not guarantee that they are safe. The water level may rise from tides, flooding or controlled damming or the lines may expand and sag from the heat.

Boats have also been known to strike powerlines simply because their operators didn't have up-to-date charts or didn't know how far it was from the boat's waterlines to the mastheads. Usually, powerlines that span bodies of water have the minimum clearance between their lowest point and the highest waterline mark indicated on charts or signs at the approach to them. LEARN these clearance distances!

Observe!

Be observant for downed or sagging lines following storms or high winds. A watchful eye upward as well as in other directions is needed. Look to see if the area is marked with a special hazard buoy or sign. Most power companies take the responsibility to post warning signs wherever their lines span a body of water.

Don't Panic!

Should your boat come in contact with a powerline, DO NOT jump into the water. The electrical charge will pass through your boat and be grounded in the surrounding water. The best thing to do is remain low in the boat and avoid touching any metal fixtures. Leave the boat only after any arcing has stopped.

Alert!

The Coast Guard wants to alert all boaters to the dangers of navigating near powerlines and urges everyone to help prevent such accidents. All dealers, marinas, boatyards, yacht clubs and boating associations are urged to help reduce this hazard by alerting boaters who use their facilities.

First Aid for Electrical Burns (courtesy of The American Red Cross)
The signals of electrical injury include:

• Unconsciousness.
• Dazed, confused behavior.
• Obvious burns on the skin surface.
• Trouble breathing.
• Weak, irregular, or absent pulse.
• Burns both where the current entered and where it exited, often on the hand or foot.

Never approach a victim of an electrical injury until you are sure the power is off, or the power source has been removed from the injury site. DO NOT TOUCH DOWNED POWERLINES. Keep bystanders well away from any source of live current.

To care for a victim of an electrical injury, make sure the scene is safe. Alert the Coast Guard or Emergency Medical Services (EMS) immediately. Do a primary survey. Be aware that the victim may have trouble breathing or may be in cardiac arrest. Check for more than one burn site. Cover all burns with dry, sterile dressings and treat for shock.