The rivers are very high this year. Lots of logs and snags. WA rivers are really no place to be going for a swim. From what I can tell this doesn't apply to lakes, just rivers. Seems reasonable to me, at least in the context of the nanny state world we currently live in. It is expensive and risky to put together a rescue/recovery team. I guess one alternative would be to bill people who need to be rescued, or bill the families for recovering the bodies.
I wrote the county and told them that my family and I will not move to King county when I retire from the military. That area was on our list of locations, but I cannot afford the potential fines.
some friends and i often poach an "off limits" lake around here.... i always carry the $150 potential fine with me... haven't had to use it yet.
is that a fine or a bribe? I like how you and Clare are shaking your fists at authority in your photo!!!!
Exact opposite situation here. A nearby town just BANNED wearing life vests at the town swimming spot on the river.
www.wgme.com/.../wgme_vid_8470.shtml
Exact opposite situation here. A nearby town just BANNED wearing life vests at the town swimming spot on the river.
www.wgme.com/.../wgme_vid_8470.shtml
I actually agree with this. If a child can not swim safely on their own, then the parents should be within arms reach at all times.
I actually agree with this. If a child can not swim safely on their own, then the parents should be within arms reach at all times.
I learned to swim in a lake at a family camp. There were strict rules. No life preservers of any kind while in the water. No solo deep water until they could swim unassisted approximately 200 yards in the open water. Life preservers on all children under 14 while boating. All those kids grew up to be fabulous swimmers, and safe boaters.
I absolutely agree with this policy -- life vests while boating but never when swimming. These are the kids who drown -- they float into deep water and never know how to swim. My observation has been that the parents who want their kids in life vests for swimming are swimmers either. I don't think kids ever learn to swim well if they are always in flotation gear.
This goes back to the need to teach water safety to kids and teens, something we don't do well at.
One of my kids has avoided swim class all his life. He's not comfortable in water over his head. He wanted to wear a life vest but I wont let him -- he'll have to learn to swim (opportunity is still there!)
I won't bother with my opinions either way on the requirement, but I can say from my position as a member of my fire department's swiftwater rescue team, that since this rule has taken effect... I have yet to be toned out to the river for a rescue. We've got the Green and White river's in our district and as soon as the weather was getting nice, we were getting called out (sometimes multiple's in a day), and after this, not one page since. *knocks on wood*
