BOISE, Idaho — Even though we've had some warm days, we still have some time before summer makes its debut. Many people have already taken advantage of dusting off the paddle boards and kayaks and have hit the ponds and lakes.
Here are some things to keep in mind when dipping your toes in the water as spring starts to wrap up and summer begins.
According to The Red Cross and the United States Forest Service, if you are heading to a lake, always swim with a buddy and in supervised areas.
Don't use alcohol or drugs before or while swimming, diving or supervising swimmers. Use a life jacket that meets U.S. Coast Guard requirements even if you consider yourself a strong swimmer when boating.
Both organizations recommend learning to swim, so enroll yourself and your child in swim lessons.
Another spot that is a summer tradition is floating the Boise River. While it might be tempting to cool off in the Boise River, the Ada County Paramedics say conditions on the Boise River are still too dangerous. River flows are around 1,920 cubic feet per second, which is almost twice of what's considered safe for float season.
"We still have about another month or so before it's cleared out and it's settled down enough for people to actually start floating it,” said Ada County Paramedics Battalion Chief Brandon LaRosa. “We already have had a few river rescues this year, secondary to people getting in for various amount of reasons.”
Aside from the water being too fast, Chief LaRosa say it's also too cold.
"The part of it that's sneaky is you sit in an inner tube with your bottom in the water and cool yourself off real well,” Chief LaRosa said. “Then you get colder than you think, and you have a hard time actually swimming when you have to, or even getting to the side to self-rescue.”
Even though the Boise River is not safe to be in now, there are other bodies of water that are open and safe to get into. So, Chief LaRosa recommends taking some things with you when taking a trip to the water. Things like water, sunscreen, and a cell phone.
“As much as we try to get away from our electronic devices, [taking] a charged phone with you that you can at least turn on and alert people to where you're at, or where you're going, or if you're going to be late,” Chief LaRosa said.
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