Eastside Fire & Safety Reminds Sammamish Residents About Water Safety

The summer season is finally here, and more and more people in our area will be enjoying the outdoors. The recent hot weather conditions means the public will look for ways to cool off. What better way than taking advantage of the beautiful areas that surround us?

Unfortunately, sun, heat, and fair-weather activities such as swimming also present their share of hazards. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-death for children under the age of 18. Most drowning deaths occur in outdoor settings such as lakes, rivers, and ponds. 

Fishing and boating are major factors in drowning among middle-age men. U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets are required for children 12 years or younger while on boats less than 19 feet long. A new ruling adopted by the King County Council now requires any swimmer, boater or floater or receive a potential $86 fine. The best thing anyone can do to stay safe is to always wear a life jacket when fishing and playing in or near the water.

It is important to understand your limits and be aware of the water conditions. Dangerous currents, cold water temperatures, hidden debris and objects in the water can pose unknown hazards, and we have seen the results of those hazards on our rivers over the last few months. 

Eastside Fire & Rescue offers the following tips and suggests you post them where they are likely to be seen by the greatest number of people:

• When possible, swim where lifeguards are present. Children who are in or near water must be supervised closely by a sober, attentive adult who knows how to rescue someone.
• Stay within designated swimming areas. Swimming beyond designated areas in lakes and rivers is a factor in the drowning deaths of Washington teenagers and adults. Be cautious of sudden drop-offs. Because rivers are constantly moving, they can carve new channels, bring trees down into the river and create new drop-offs.
• Know your limits and your abilities; stop before you are too tired.
• Weather and water conditions can change quickly. Check weather forecasts and be prepared for adverse conditions.
• Set limits with your children — when they can go in the water, where they can go, who needs to be there, and what they should have with them. Just because they’re with a group of friends does not mean they can rescue each other if someone gets into trouble.
• Many rivers and lakes remain cold all summer, even if they are warm on the surface. It’s hard to swim in cold water, especially when one is tired. Hypothermia can set in quickly.

For drowning prevention information:  http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Water-Safety/waterinjuries-factsheet.html. For information on the new rule in King County:  www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/boating/rivers.aspx 

-- This information is from Eastside Fire & Rescue, which provides service to Sammamish residents. It is being posted as a public service announcement. The fire agency has three locations in Sammamish: Station 81, Station 82 and Station 83. In March, Sammamish Patch visited an agency fire station in Sammamish to see what was inside.