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61 – Safety and Precautions Traveling Around Rivers And Lakes!
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Please Also See Tips #69 – Crossing Rivers or Lakes
TELL someone where you are going, when you expect to return, and where to call if you don't.
Never swim alone, if you can’t swim, stay out of the water!
Make sure that your water skills and experience are equal to the river/lake and the conditions.
Know when and how to swim for the eddy ( a mini whirlpool).
Reduce injuries by wearing protective foot wear and proper clothing designed for river recreation
Swim in a supervised area. A trained lifeguard who can help in an emergency is the best safety factor. Remember, even good swimmers can have an unexpected medical emergency in the water!
Select an area that is clean and well-maintained.
Select an area that has good water quality and safe natural conditions.
Murky water, hidden underwater objects, unexpected drop-offs, and aquatic plant life are hazards.
Water pollution can cause health problems for swimmers.
Strong tides, big waves, and currents can turn an event that began as fun into a tragedy!
Avoid entering the water head-first. Too many swimmers are seriously injured every year by entering head-first into water that is too shallow.
A feet-first entry is much safer than diving head-first.
Be sure rafts and docks are in good condition. A well-run open-water facility maintains its rafts and docks in good condition, with no loose boards or exposed nails. NEVER swim under a raft or dock.
Always look before jumping off a dock or raft to be sure no one is in the way.
Avoid drainage ditches and arroyos. Drainage ditches and arroyos for water run-off are not good places for swimming or playing in the water. After heavy rains, they can quickly change into raging rivers that can easily take a human life.
Even the strongest swimmers are no match for the power of the water. Fast water and debris in the current make ditches and arroyos VERY dangerous!
Be prepared for extremes in weather, especially cold.
Know about hypothermia and how it can affect you.
Plan your trip and stick to your plan.
Watch out for catching a foot in rocks at the bottom of the river while trying to stand up to avoid getting swept downstream in water.
Trees or single branches in the current, with river water flowing through, can cause a severe pinning hazard.
Trees can also fall because of old age, floods, and storms.Look for them on wooded riverbanks, along small creeks after high water, often found on the outside of bend, and on less utilized rivers. Always look downstream to spot bobbing twigs or irregular flow patterns.
Man-made objects in the river are inherently more dangerous than most things natural. Keep an eye out for bridge pilings, low head dams, junked cars, any man-made object found commonly in urban river-ways, highway crossings, and abandoned dam sites. Make it a habit to visually scan downstream.
Always supervise children closely, especially when they're in or near water.
Everyone especially children should always wear a life jacket!
Don't read, play cards, talk on the phone, or engage in such activity while watching children in or around water.
NO drinking alcohol before or during swimming or boating!
Obey signs near rivers and lakes.
Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Choose swimming areas carefully and swim only during low-water conditions.
Do NOT jump in the water to save a friend who is struggling in deep water. Look for a lifeguard or a professionally trained person to help!