Summer is here, which means our rivers and lakes are inviting escapes from hot apartments and homes without air conditioning. But a recent rescue at Discovery Park highlights the importance of water safety.
Even in the height of summer, Washington waters tend to be cold. Dr. Elizabeth Meade, head of Pediatrics at Swedish Medical Center, said each year people die from cold shock.
"When you jump or fall into a body of water that’s really cold, your body has this physiological response and one of the first things that happens is that you can’t control your breathing, so you gasp or you start hyperventilating," Meade said. "If that happens when your mouth is at or under the water level, you immediately inhale a bunch of water and people can drown in less than a minute, even people who are very strong swimmers."
Meade said drowning can be completely silent, emphasizing the importance of staying close to young ones.
Staying close to children when they're in the water can be the best form of protection. It's important to know that swimming lessons may not be enough for young swimmers.
"Especially if [your child is] under the age of five, you want to be right with them," said Meade. "Keep young children at arm’s length."
Seattle police officers are busy patrolling waters keeping an extra eye on boaters and swimmers enjoying the summer months.
Officer Smith with SPD said the department patrols 24 hours a day, 365 days a year along 200 miles of shoreline.
The department has received a large volume of calls regarding speeding boats. Officer Long said boats must remember to stay under 7 knots when entering the ship canal from Lake Washington all the way to the Ballard Locks.
