The hot weather is expected to continue for the foreseeable future in southern Alberta, so the urge to hop in a river or lake might be strong, but it is important to take precautions.
Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services is sharing safety reminders with those who want to enjoy local waterways, as part of National Drowning Prevention Week.
Charles Schoening, Water Rescue Team Lead with LFES, said crews are training along the Oldman River to ensure they are prepared to save anyone who might get stuck.
This follows a rescue by LFES in early July, when a group of boaters became trapped along the river around the weir during high-water conditions.
READ MORE: Crews rescue six boaters from Oldman River
Schoening said the top safety tip for recreating in the water is to wear a life jacket.
“It doesn’t matter how accomplished a swimmer you are. In moving water, especially, you can get into trouble very quickly and you need to be wearing a PFD (personal flotation device),” Schoening stated. “If you’re out recreating on the river, whether that’s floating down in a tube, or in a canoe or just out for a swim, it’s always best to be wearing a PFD.”
Schoening said generally, people will overestimate their own abilities as swimmers, especially when tackling a powerful current and strong water flow, particularly in areas like near the weir along the Oldman River.
“This is never a safe place to recreate,” he said. “It’s okay to fish below it [and] it’s okay to launch your boats again below it, but actually being anywhere in the turbulent water around this weir is very dangerous. The currents are unpredictable.”
He added that the unpredictability of the water is why LFES crews train around the weir, so they can safely determine where they can position themselves for a rescue, like in the situation with the group of boaters earlier this month.
HIGH LEVEL BRIDGE
Schoening said an area that might seem popular is around the High Level Bridge, however, he asks that residents steer clear of the site.
He explained the bridge is private property owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway, so playing on or around the bridge is prohibited. Additionally, Schoening said the bridge is an area that contains many hazards, above and under the surface of the water.
He said debris, large branches, and unpredictable currents are some of the dangers people might experience if they find themselves in the water around the bridge.
SAFETY GEAR & PLANS
Schoening said a proper, heavy-duty PFD is an investment that could save lives, and if you are recreating in the water, bring your cellphone in a waterproof container, in case you need to reach emergency services while on the water.
“We’ve affected a couple of rescues this year and the reason that those were successful is because people had cell phones [and] they were able to communicate with 911.”
He added that “sturdy shoes” should be on your pre-water day checklist.
Schoening explained that when tubing down the river, you might exit at an area that is rocky or filled with thorns and bushes.
A pair of runners can also offer a strong grip when walking in the water.
Recreators should ensure they share their plans with a friend or family member, in case they encounter trouble and need help.
“Let them know where you’re planning to [go] in, let them know where you’re planning to [get] out, where your vehicles are going to be parked, and approximately what time you’re going to be going and what time you expect to be home,” Schoening said. “That way, if you’re overdue, that person can contact 911 and we can begin a search for you.”
He said that alcohol and water do not mix, and asked that residents avoid mixing the two, as tempting as it may be amid the hot summer conditions.
“Keep an eye on your kids, keep an eye on your dogs if you’re recreating close to the river. This river, is mostly a tame kind of river, but conditions on the river can change very quickly,” Schoening added.
“It could be raining 10 kilometres from here … and that could very quickly [impact] the river conditions here. As well, different currents can change the sandbars, the formation of the river bottom, all those things can change very quickly.”
He added that floating debris can lead to different situations and conditions from one day to the next. “So just because you floated in an area yesterday and it was safe, it doesn’t mean there won’t be any safety risks there today.”
Schoening said in southern Alberta, hazards that water activity enthusiasts might encounter include barbed wire fences and trees, especially during a high-water event.
“Trees from all the way up in the Crowsnest Pass can end up in Lethbridge in a high-water event. Remember, all these bodies of water, they’re all tied together,” he stated.
“Down around the High Level Bridge, there is debris from the bridge building process still in the water down there, so there’s all kinds of snag risks, there’s all kinds of hazards [and] those things create different currents. When the current goes around them, it moves the current, [and] it creates eddies – it creates areas that can capture people in there.”
CLOTHING
Schoening added that in some cases, swimmers will choose to wear clothing like sweatpants or hoodies, but when it comes to what you wear in the river, less is more.
He said heavy clothing items can weigh you down in the water.
“If you’re wearing long pants and they come down in the process if you’re trying to swim, they’ll stop at the knees and it will make it impossible for you to kick, [which] creates a very dangerous situation,” Schoening stated.
“If you’re going to go in the river and swim, you should be doing it in a PFD ideally but definitely make sure you’re wearing proper swim wear as well.”
RESPONDER SAFETY
Schoening said emergency crews will respond but if recreators ignore safety warnings and find themselves in trouble, that puts LFES members in danger as well.
“We will come and affect that rescue, but it creates a dangerous and hazardous situation for everyone else that’s involved, whether that’s a member of the public who sees you and thinks that they’re going to make that rescue, or whether that’s our people coming out here and doing it professionally,” he remarked.
Blake McCallen is a member of LFES training in the Oldman River. He said training is paramount to ensure crew members are ready to serve when help is needed.
“Any time that you’re doing any type of rescuing situation, having all of your variables taken care of before you get in the water, it’s going to be the safest thing for us as well as the patients that we go to,” he stated.
As part of the training exercise, underwater divers are undertaking different search patterns for members acting as individuals needing to be rescued.
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McCallen said his training has taught him how powerful water can be, “Even for people that are comfortable in the water.”
“There’s always stuff that you can’t see underneath the water and for me, that’s terrifying, so err on the side of caution.”
He suggests tubers survey their starting point to ensure it is a safe place to start their journey.
“As long as the current’s not too strong and again, have your flotation devices.”
Before heading out, recreators can also check out the lates river conditions on the Alberta government website.
