Public Health offers tips for staying safe as swim season approaches

In spring and early summer, lakes and rivers in Southwest Washington are still cold, and water may be moving quickly

VANCOUVER – With the arrival of warm weather, Clark County Public Health is reminding people to take caution in and around water – especially area lakes and rivers. In spring and early summer, lakes and rivers in Southwest Washington are still cold, and water may be moving quickly.

“Even as temperatures outside get warmer, lakes and rivers are still cold enough to shock and immobilize even the strongest swimmers,” said Dr. Alan Melnick, Clark County health officer and Public Health director.

Public Health urges people of all ages to follow these tips for safe swimming and recreating in all bodies of water throughout the summer:

• Know your limits. Drowning often occurs when swimmers tire.
• Avoid fast-flowing waters, including rivers and ocean beaches with riptides.
• Don’t swim alone.
• Avoid distractions when children are swimming or near water. Children should be supervised by adults anytime they are in or around water. Supervision requires complete attention, even if another adult is present. Drowning can happen swiftly and silently.
• 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. By law, children 12 years and younger must wear a US Coast Guard-approved life jacket or vest on all vessels 18 feet or smaller.
• Avoid alcohol and marijuana use when swimming or boating.
• Don’t dive into shallow water or jump off bridges or cliffs.
• Swim in designated swimming areas only. Signs will be viewable letting you know when and where it’s safe to swim.
• Teach children how to swim. Enroll children in swim lessons when they are ready. Early and frequent swim lessons will teach children the skills needed to stay safe while in and around water.

Water quality monitoring

Public Health also encourages residents to check for water quality advisories before heading out to local lakes. 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 water bodies for bacteria that could make swimmers sick. 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 water bodies 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.

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. People can also subscribe to Public Health’s weekly newsletter, In the Splash, to receive advisory updates via email every Friday.

For more information about swim beach advisories and other public health topics, follow Clark County Public Health on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), and look for Public Health updates on Nextdoor.

Information provided by Clark Co. WA Communications.