River drownings have common risk factors

Safety officials says alcohol is a major factor

 UPDATED 7:56 AM PDT May 12, 2013

Public safety officials say drowning incidents along the American River have several factors in common, one being young swimmers using alcohol who underestimate the danger of hypothermia.  

Officials renewed pleas for swimmers to use life jackets following two drowning deaths last weekend.

Both deaths would have been prevented by life jackets.

“People in their early 20s and early 30s, in that range, overestimate their ability to swim across there,” said Battalion Chief Mike Lozano of Sacramento Metro Fire.  “Also, alcohol ends up being a huge factor in a lot of these incidents.”

Lozano said most rescue calls occur in the late afternoon after people have become tired and cannot manage the cold and currents.

"They just get fatigued from that initial swim and they don’t understand how much that cold water takes out of them, the energy exertion it takes to get back (to shore)," he said.

 At Lake Natoma, start park lifeguards keep a close watch on swimmers because of a sharp, deep drop-off near the shore.

Also, officials said that Natoma is fed directly by the coldest water from the bottom of Folsom Dam.

The surface temperature in Lake Natoma, about 54 degrees, is several degrees colder than the surface temperature of Folsom Lake.

Because of hypothermia, swimmers are often unable to cross waterways.

"A lot of time people suffer from cramps. When you have a severe muscle cramp, like a charlie horse,” said Ryan Steele, with the Folsom State Recreation Area. “It’s the same effect in the water except you can’t touch bottom. You don’t have anywhere to go except down.”

Officials say that life jackets are required for all swimmers under the age of 13 in Sacramento County.

Firefighters say if only adults would also heed that advice, most drownings along the American River could be prevented.   



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