Experts warn about cold water risks

KREM reported on May 22 that meteorologists and health experts in Spokane were warning Memorial Day weekend recreators not to mistake warm air for safe water. The station said lakes and rivers in the Inland Northwest can remain dangerously cold even when afternoon temperatures climb into the 70s. Federal and state safety guidance backs that up, with officials urging boaters, paddlers and swimmers to plan for cold-water immersion rather than beach weather. The advice centered on one point: a sunny holiday weekend does not change the risks of sudden exposure to cold water. ### Why can warm weather still be dangerous on the water? The National Weather Service says rising air temperatures can create a false sense of safety because cold water can trigger a dangerous physical response within seconds of immersion. The agency says cold shock can be just as severe in water between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit as it is in near-freezing water, and sudden gasping or rapid breathing can begin in water as warm as 77 degrees. (krem.com) KREM said that was the message local meteorologists and health experts were trying to deliver ahead of the holiday weekend. The station reported that people heading to regional lakes and rivers were being urged to use extreme caution and not assume conditions were safe simply because the forecast was warm. (weather.gov) ### What actually happens when someone suddenly falls in? Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources says most cold-water deaths happen before hypothermia becomes the main problem. The agency says the first two to three minutes after immersion can bring gasping, hyperventilation and panic, while the first 30 minutes can bring “swim failure” as arms and legs cool rapidly and become harder to control. (krem.com) Washington State Parks says that pattern is especially important for boaters and paddlers because an unexpected fall overboard can happen during otherwise routine recreation. The agency says cold water can quickly incapacitate people who may think of hypothermia as a slow-moving risk. ### What are officials telling people to do this weekend? Washington State Parks says wearing a life jacket is one of the most important protections in cold water. (dnr.state.mn.us) The National Weather Service also says a life jacket significantly increases the chances of survival, because cold shock can make it hard to control breathing or keep the airway clear. The U.S. (parks.wa.gov) Coast Guard and boating safety groups say people should dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature, and avoid assuming that strong swimming ability is enough. The Safe Boating Campaign also advises filing a float plan and bringing extra dry clothing, while Coast Guard guidance says accidents happen quickly and every second counts in cold water. ### Does this apply only to boaters? KREM framed the warning broadly for anyone spending time around lakes and rivers over Memorial Day weekend. The station’s report covered recreators generally, not only people on motorboats, reflecting the same advice used by paddling and boating agencies that treat accidental immersion as a risk across multiple activities. (news.uscg.mil) The National Weather Service says cold-water preparation applies to surfers, swimmers and boaters alike. Washington State Parks similarly warns that any type of boating or paddling can put someone into dangerously cold water without much warning. ### What should people watch for next? Memorial Day weekend travel and outdoor traffic were already building on May 24, with more people heading to parks and waterways across the country. (krem.com) In Spokane, KREM’s forecast said Monday temperatures were expected to reach the mid-70s, the kind of conditions officials say can make cold-water hazards easier to underestimate. People heading out can find current federal cold-water guidance from the National Weather Service and local reminders through KREM and Washington State Parks. (weather.gov) (krem.com)