Locals issued reminder about dangers of swift water

  • 2019-05-15
The United Fire Authority is reminding Cottonwood Heights area residents that as spring approaches, snow in the mountains has begun to melt, leading to an increased volume of water in the rivers. The water is extremely cold, and the flows forecast for Big and Little Cottonwood creeks are higher than they have been since 2011.

Even the most skillful and experienced swimmers can be caught out by fast-flowing rivers, particularity when water temperature is so low. The snow pack is large, which means these conditions could continue for months, and hypothermia can set in rapidly and incapacitate even strong swimmers. As the weather gets warmer, residents will begin taking part in outdoor activities, which led Unified Fire Authority to issue its warnings.

Serious incidents in the northern part of Utah often occur in the warmer months. This is unique because most of the losses occur in bodies of water fed by melting snow, which makes the rivers in this area some of the coldest in the state, despite the warmth of the air.

UFA says that frequently, attempted rescues turn into disasters when the rescuers also get into trouble. They warn people not to attempt to save others by jumping after them, and instead to try to find something to hold out to the person, and call 911.

Agencies like this can use flyer printing to develop leaflets for area residents.