... Warm weather and fast flowing cold water are a deadly
combination...
... National safe boating week begins Saturday...
Area rivers... streams and reservoirs are directly fed from the
melting snow pack in the Sierra Nevada and Tehachapi Mountains.
Even though a stream or river looks cool and inviting... the water
is actually very cold. Outdoor enthusiasts are advised to use
extreme caution near rivers... streams and reservoirs.
If you are planning travel into the southern Sierra Nevada... the
Tehachapi Mountains... the Kern River Canyon or the Sierra foothills
this weekend... remember that the increased cold water flow in
rivers... streams and reservoirs... combined with expected
temperatures in the 80s to lower 90s... can be a potentially
deadly combination.
People planning activities such as rafting... swimming or
paddling should always wear life jackets or vests... and keep other
flotation gear handy when in the water. Be aware that exposure to
cold water for too long could quickly result in hypothermia.
Hypothermia is a sudden loss of body temperature which can be
fatal. Early signs of hypothermia are uncontrollable shivering and
numbness of limbs. The advanced stages of hypothermia include...
memory loss... disorientation... slurred speech... drowsiness and
apparent exhaustion. A person may appear drunk during the advanced
stage and shivering may decrease or stop. If you witness someone
suffering from the symptoms of hypothermia... get help immediately.
If you are camping near a river or stream... remember that the
highest water levels occur at night... usually within an hour or
two either side of midnight. A campground may look dry and safe
in the late afternoon... but can take on water at night.
