Hot Oregon weather, cold waters is recipe for danger
CORBETT, Ore. (KOIN) — Summer arrived quickly in Oregon. You may want to take a dip in the water to begin your summer fun. However, you must be aware the temperatures warmed up but the waters haven’t.
The water temperature in the Sandy River “right now is around 42-43 degrees. So it might be hot right now on shore, you might be feeling 85 degrees. That water is very cold. It’s colder than the ocean right now,” said Lt. Jasmine Zimmer Stucky with the Corbett Fire Department.
On Friday night, a man who became disoriented after entering the cold water was rescued from the Sandy River near Lewis and Clark State Park. Another swimmer rescued the man, pulling him to safety. He’s expected to make a full recovery, Zimmer Stucky told KOIN 6 News.
Man rescued from Sandy River after getting ‘disoriented’ in cold water
“From 2019 to 2022, nine people lost their lives to drowning in the Sandy River. This river is colder than it looks, its faster than it looks, there are steep drop offs,” she said. “It’s a serious river that requires everyone’s attention.”
“Temperatures may be warming up this weekend, but lakes and rivers are still cold enough to shock and immobilize even the strongest swimmers,” Clark County health officer and Public Health director Dr. Alan Melnick said in a statement.
There are, of course, safety tips to keep you and your family safe this year and every year. Among them:
Know your limits
Don’t swim alone
Avoid fast-flowing water
Keep a close eye on your kids
Wear a life jacket
Don’t dive into shallow waters or jump off bridges or cliffs
Don’t drink or use marijuana when swimming or boating.
“There is so much water moving down this river right now and people need to be careful they’re not swept down the river or getting their feet stuck in the rocks, getting caught up in the currents and taken way downstream,” Zimmer Stucky said.
Shannon Crawford of Gresham said she makes sure she stays close “where I can touch and stay out of the hard currents. Those can pull you out in a heartbeat without you even noticing, no matter how strong of a swimmer you are.”
There are 5 different spots along the Sandy River where life jackets will be placed for anyone’s use, she said. Three spots are at Dabney State Park with the others at Lewis & Clark State Park, including a spot at the boat ramp.
And if you see someone struggling in the water there is one thing that you should definitely do.
“If you witness a drowning incident, the first thing is to call 911,” she said. “I wouldn’t recommend making a second victim. If you, yourself, have been drinking, if you’re not a strong swimmer, if they’re far out in the current, don’t take that risk.”
KOIN 6 News will have more information later in the day.
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