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Friday, February 10, 2012
Will the waterways and pools bring tragedy into your life this holiday weekend?
by Ed Fogle, published on May 23, 2009 at 12:30 AM
Storyline: Maverick's Misc. Stories
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"Drownings in Sacramento have become a problem. They occur way too much and it is very frustrating for us, because it seems like there is not much more we can do to help prevent them" said Capt. Doucette, Public Information Officer for the Sacramento Fire Department in an article a few weeks ago. see article
"More than one in four fatal drowning victims are children 14 and younger. For every child who dies from drowning, another four received emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries" says the Center for Disease Control and Prevention CDCR Site
For myself, as a former lifeguard, paramedic and firefighter, nothing challenges your professionalism more than getting the call across the radio for a child related drowning; while in route the dispatcher updates you stating "be advised, CPR is in progress". While you see so much and most 911 responses you handle as routine, your heart beats a little faster for these calls, especially if you yourself are a parent.
Depending on the body of water, even a few inches of water can be surprisingly dangerous.
Sacramento Fire Department is just one agency that has partnered with Cal Boating and CSUS Aquatic Center to bring local boaters and waterway recreation enthusiasts a lifesaving program by making life jackets available on loan to children and adults.
"The Department has supplied each location with life jackets for children and adults. An individual or family can check out life jackets for a day or a weekend simply by completing a loan form. Look for the sign, 'Life Jacket Loan Station,' at participating locations" says Cal Boating.
In a press release today, Capt. Doucette, Public Information Officer for the Sacramento Fire Department issued this reminder: "The Sacramento Fire Department is reminding you that this holiday weekend our beaches and waterways will be very busy. It is extremely important that a responsible adult take the responsibility and supervise all children who are in or near the water. It is also the law that all persons under the age of 13 must wear a properly fitting life jacket while in our natural water ways."
The following local fire stations have "Life Jacket Loan Stations":
El Dorado Hills Fire Dept.
Station 84 2180 Francisco Dr.
Folsom City Fire Dept.
Station 35 535 Glenn Dr.
Roseville Fire Dept.
Station 1 401 Oak St, Ste 402
Sacramento Fire Dept.
Station 5 731 Broadway
Station 8 5990 H Street
Station 11 785 Florin Rd.
Station 15 1591 Newborough Dr.
Station 60 3301 Julliard Dr.
Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District
Station 31 7950 California Ave.
Station 59 7210 Murieta Dr.
Station 61 10595 Folsom Blvd
Station 63 12395 Folsom Blvd.
Station 65 11201 Coloma Rd.
Station 110 1432 Eastern Ave.
See the Cal Boating web page for more information on this program
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Sacramento has always had a problem with drownings. Each year the media comes out with the same story with a different date. Some people just never seem to learn that our rivers are very dangerous places to recreate.
The mixture of alcohol and stupidity takes several lives each year in our local rivers. I don't know how many times that I have been on the river and seen young children, as young as three years old, playing in the river without a life vest, and without a parent at arms length away to protect them.
The saddest part of course is that very irresponsible parents who allow their children to play in rivers that are notorious for taking young lives. I have far less sympathy for the adults who drown who have been drinking alcohol or are just plain stupid. We cannot legislate away stupidity, so there will always be people drowning on our rivers.