Clark County Health Warns of Cold Water Dangers

Legacy automated check: the original source text was not preserved. These earlier verdicts have not passed the current publication checks and may contain errors. Source: original document ↗

• ✓
  Clark County Public Health is urging residents to exercise caution around local lakes and rivers this Memorial Day weekend.“Body This Memorial Day weekend, Clark County Public Health is reminding people to take caution in and around local lakes and rivers.”
• ✓
  Water remains cold enough to cause shock, rapid breathing, and potential drowning.“Even as temperatures outside get warmer, local lakes and rivers are still cold enough to shock even the strongest swimmers. When a swimmer’s body hits the cold water, it can trigger a sudden, rapid increase in breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. The uncontrolled breathing can cause people to gasp and inhale water, leading to potential drowning.”
• ✓
  Cold water can trigger sudden increases in heart rate and blood pressure, leading to uncontrolled breathing and possible water inhalation.“When a swimmer’s body hits the cold water, it can trigger a sudden, rapid increase in breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. The uncontrolled breathing can cause people to gasp and inhale water, leading to potential drowning.”
• ✓
  Public Health recommends avoiding fast-moving waters.“Avoid fast-flowing waters, including local rivers that may appear calm and ocean beaches with riptides.”
• ✓
  Public Health recommends not swimming alone.“Don’t swim alone.”
• ✓
  Public Health recommends wearing life jackets.“Wear a life jacket. Children, teens and adults should wear life jackets while boating, using a personal watercraft, inner tubing or while using other water sports equipment. Life jackets should also be worn while swimming in lakes, rivers or the ocean. Life jackets are available to borrow from loaner stations at several local waterbodies.”
• ✓
  Public Health recommends supervising children closely.“Children should be supervised by adults anytime they are in or around water. Supervision requires complete attention, even if another adult is present.”
• ✓
  Water quality monitoring continues at three designated swim beaches—Vancouver Lake, Klineline Pond, and Battle Ground Lake.“Throughout the summer, Public Health monitors the water quality at the county’s three designated swim beaches – Vancouver Lake, Klineline Pond and Battle Ground Lake – checking the waterbodies for bacteria that could make swimmers sick.”
• ✓
  Advisories are issued if bacteria levels exceed state thresholds or harmful algal blooms are detected.“Public Health will issue advisories if bacteria levels exceed state thresholds and may pose a risk to people swimming or wading in the water. Public Health also monitors swim beaches and other local waterbodies for harmful algal blooms that can pose a health risk to people and can be fatal to pets. Public Health will issue advisories at waterbodies with elevated toxin levels from algal blooms.”
• ✓
  Advisories are posted at waterbodies and shared via social media and email newsletters.“When Public Health issues water quality advisories, signs are posted at the waterbody and information about the advisories is posted on the Public Health website and social media.”