Updated: July 05, 2017
THE TENNESSEE STATE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE REMINDS RESIDENTS TO BE ESPECIALLY MINDFUL OF THE RISKS FROM ELECTRICAL SHOCKS WHILE BOATING OR SPENDING TIME ON THE WATER THIS SUMMER. ELECTRICAL SHOCK DROWNING, OR ESD, CAN OCCUR WHEN SWIMMERS COME INTO CONTACT WITH ELECTRICAL CURRENTS WHILE IN THE WATER. TO REDUCE ESD RISKS, THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED THE NOAH DEAN AND NATE ACT WHICH REQUIRES INSPECTIONS OF OVER 300 PUBLIC MARINAS AND DOCKS ACROSS THE STATE. BOAT DOCK AND MARINA OPERATORS MUST COMPLY WITH EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS PREVENTING POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL SHOCKS AND ELECTROCUTION. THE BILL WAS NAMED FOR 10 YEAR-OLD NOAH DEAN WINSTEAD AND 11 YEAR-OLD NATE LYNAM WHO DIED IN 2012 AFTER BEING ELECTROCUTED WHILE SWIMMING AT CHEROKEE LAKE MARINA. A MARINA INSPECTION PROGRAM HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO HELP IMPROVE SAFETY. INSPECTION RESULTS ARE UPDATED MONTHLY ON THE WEBSITE TN.GOV/COMMERCE.