Know the Water
Due to budget cuts, there will be no lifeguards on duty at any of our outdoor swimming areas in 2010, and Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation is urging all park visitors to be cautious when visiting local rivers and lakes.

High and swift rivers can easily overwhelm the strongest swimmer. Even on hot days, many lakes, ponds, and rivers may still be cold and dangerous for swimmers. Hypothermia can occur quickly in very cold water. Swimming in open water (lakes, rivers, ponds, etc.) is harder than in a pool. People tire faster and get into trouble more quickly. A person can go under water in murky water, making them very hard to find, or be swept away in currents. Avoid swimming where two rivers come together - many good swimmers have gotten into trouble or drown in currents that didn't appear to be moving that fast on the surface.

Water contact areas located along the Columbia River, like Frenchman's Bar Regional Park and Cottonwood Beach are not considered safe for swimming due to strong currents and steep drop offs.

Know Your Limits
There are several things you can do to ensure a safe park experience around water:

• Never swim alone.
• Even if you're a good swimmer, always make sure an adult is supervising with no distractions and watching everyone in the area.
• Children and adults who are not strong swimmers should wear life jackets at all times when they are in the water. Swim lessons are available at several local facilities to help build strong swimming skills, including the Marshall and Firstenburg Community Centers
• When boating, don't overload the boat and wear a life jacket that fits. Many people have drown after falling overboard while fishing. Be prepared at all times by wearing a life jacket - you never know when you'll be tossed into the water.
• Stay sober when on or in the water.
• River bottoms are uneven, with sharp drop-offs that can leave someone wading in deep water without warning.
• Boaters need to always be aware of their surroundings and keep a safe and legal distance from beach swimming areas, other boats, personal watercraft, and docks.
• Always follow the posted park rules for the park you are using to ensure safe water access.

• Check river or steam conditions by contacting the United States Geological Survey at (253) 428-3600 ext. 2635.
• Take life jackets, a rescue device, a cell phone, and someone who knows CPR when you are out on the water.
• Check beach advisories before you go swimming
• Boaters must obtain their boater education card from the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.
• Parents need to tell their children about the dangers of open water at rivers and beaches, and need to know where their children are swimming, who they are with, and when they are expected home.
• Parents are powerful role models. If they wear life jackets, it's more likely their children will too.
• Learn more about water safety and drowning prevention from the Washington State Drowning Prevention Network, children's hospitals and regional medical centers.

View a Clark County Closeup segment about Vancouver Lake.