Fire House Facts - River Safety

Fire House Facts - River Safety

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Published on Tuesday, 10 July 2012 10:30

Written by YFD

Yuma, Arizona - This last weekend the Yuma Fire Department was involved in a water rescue along the Colorado River. Three juveniles between the ages of 12 and 17 were reported missing. They were found by YFD personnel in water too deep for their abilities and brought safely back to shore.

This is the second similar rescue of children in less than a week. With the weather warming up we would like to take this time to pass along some water safety reminders.

Stay aware of your surroundings, water depths, water clarity, currents and other conditions. Be alert for holes, drop-offs, and channels where water depths can suddenly change. Be sure your swimming abilities are up to the conditions, always observe the “buddy system” and never swim alone. Children should always have constant, responsible adult supervision around water.

Even adults should never swim alone. Always use the “buddy system”. Never leave children unsupervised around water, and this is even more critical around rivers and lakes.

• Be sure of your equipment. Always wear an approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) when you are boating. Inflatable “pool toys” are not “approved” PFDs. It is especially important for children to wear PFDs.
• Alcohol abuse can increase a person’s risk of drowning. Alcohol can impair judgment and perception. You do want to stay hydrated, but avoid heavily sugared, caffeinated, or alcoholic beverages.

“Tubing” on the river (or taking advantage of other local water recreation activities) can be a lot of fun, with the right equipment and taking the proper precautions!

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