Water Safety

Water Safety for the Puget Sound, Lakes, Rivers and Beaches

Know the Water

Even as the temperature starts to rise the waters around Washington will remain dangerously cold.  Summertime temperatures in the rivers and streams range from the upper-30s to mid-40s while temperatures in lakes usually remain in the 40s.  The waters of Puget Sound typically hover in the low 50s.  By far, cold-water shock is the biggest and quickest threat.

Cold water quickly robs the body of its strength, diminishes coordination and impairs judgment.  When exposed to water as warm as 50-60 degrees a person could experience "Cold Water Shock". When a person is suddenly immersed in cold water the body's first reflexive action is to gasp for air, followed by increased heart rate, stressing the body and leaving a person gasping for breath.  Over the next 10 minutes, the body draws blood away from the arms and legs to the core, quickly draining a person's ability to swim.  The average person have about 10 minutes of useful muscle function to save themselves, if you are not wearing a life jacket you might drown before becoming hypothermic. 

Know Your Limits

Swimming in open water is harder than in a pool.  People tire faster and get into trouble more quickly.  A person can go under water in a murky lake, making them hard to find, or be swept away in currents.  Avoid swimming where two rivers come together.

Swim in a life-guarded area, especially if you are not a strong swimmer.

Be cautious of sudden drop-offs in lakes and rivers.  People who can't swim or aren't strong swimmers have slipped into deeper water and drowned.

When boating, don't overload the boat and wear a life jacket that fits.

Wear a Life Jacket that Fits You

Use only life jackets and life preservers that are tested by Underwriters Laboratories and approved by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).

Check life jackets for proper fit:  Fasten all zippers, straps and ties.  The jacket should fit snugly.  Pull up on the shoulders of the life jacket, the ears and chin should not slip through.

Washington Boating Laws and USCG requirements:

• Each person onboard a personal watercraft, or being towed behind a vessel, must wear a USGC-approved life jacket.
• Children up to age 12 must wear a USGC-approved life jacket when on a vessel less than 19 feet in length.
• All vessels (including canoes, kayaks and paddle boards) must have at least one USCG-approved life jacket for each person on board.
• A whistle or other sound producing device must be carried to warn other boaters.
• If you are on the water after sunset, you need a flashlight, or similar lighting device, to warn other boaters.

Dress For the Water, Not the Weather

One of the biggest mistakes people make is dressing for the air temperature.  Water can sap your body heat 25 faster than air can.  Cotton is the worst thing you can wear, cotton absorbs water and reduces body temperature much more quickly than other material.  Wear water-resistant fabrics or synthetic material and layers that wick away moisture and a waterproof outer layer.

Be Prepared

Check river and stream conditions on the United States Geological Survey website: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/wa/nwis/sw

Check weather conditions on the National Weather Service website: https://www.weather.gov

Check beach advisories: https://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/WaterRecreation/BeachAdvisories

Boaters and paddlers should prepare a float plan and leave it with a reliable person who can notify the USGC or other rescue agency if you do not return or check in as planned.  http://floatplancentral.cgaux.org