Drownings, fires, falls, exhaustion — enjoy the hot weather!
Published 1:30 am Tuesday, April 24, 2018
EVERETT — Warm weather around Western Washington should delight Pacific Northwest denizens for the next couple of days.
Near-daily record temperatures in the low 80s at some spots of Snohomish County also brings the risks of drowning, fires and heat exhaustion.
“We see drownings this time of year, every year,” said Snohomish County Fire District 4 Chief Ron Simmons.
Such was the case Tuesday afternoon when a dive team pulled a woman’s body from a pond beneath Wallace Falls in east Snohomish County. Visitors to the area who were taking photos noticed the body in the water and called 911.
A dive team, a SnoHAWK1 helicopter crew and firefighters responded to help with the search near Gold Bar and to retrieve the unidentified body.
The National Weather Service has projected temperatures in the mid-70s through Wednesday, reaching into the upper 70s or low 80s Thursday. It’s a touch of summer in spring.
At Paine Field in Everett, the high was 68 Tuesday — two degrees shy of the record for April 24, set in 2001. At Sea-Tac Airport, a new record high temperature of 77 was recorded Tuesday, surpassing the previous record of 76, set in 1977.
Even if the air is pleasant, the lakes, rivers and streams are still chilly and currents swift.
“When the water temperature is below 65 degrees, it really draws the heat away from the body,” said Jay Albrecht, a meteorologist with National Weather Service Seattle. “Just imagine water temperatures in the 50s or even the 40s — you’re talking about something that’ll kill you pretty quickly.”
Flooding in the spring because of snow melt is “exceptionally rare,” Albrecht said. But any snow melt adds to the flow of the rivers and streams and keeps the water cold.
According to the state Department of Health, 12 people drowned in Snohomish County in 2015, the most recent year statistics were published. Earlier this week, a 22-year-old woman’s body was recovered after she fell into a waterfall at Cedar Ponds Lake in the Sultan area April 12. It might seem a small number compared to the 51 motor vehicle accident deaths and 80 fatal falls in the county that year, but drowning is easily prevented with precaution. Simmons said it’s a wise decision to wear a proper life jacket when venturing into or on any body of water.
Falls from windows are similarly preventable warm-weather related fatalities. Window locks keep children from opening them. Experts recommend keeping windows shut when children are near and to keep infants’ beds and dressers away from windows.
Controlled burns, even when the ground is still wet and dewy, present another concern. Simmons said anyone burning yard waste or debris needs to keep the fire clear of houses and structures, make sure children are not near it and keep an eye on it.
“People try to burn things they really shouldn’t burn and they leave them unattended,” he said.
Another concern is overexertion. Simmons said people’s bodies might not be ready for yard work and other physical activity. People with health conditions need to take it slow, not strain themselves, take breaks and drink a lot of water.
“We’ll see more yard injuries than sports injuries this time of year,” Simmons said. “You’ve gotta move into these things slow.”
Hikers to the Big Four Ice Caves need to take care, as well. The caves are notoriously unstable and hazardous. Deaths prompted the need for signs to ward people away from the entrance.
No ice caves, but got to see and experience another avalanche up close out on today’s hike!
A post shared by Kyle Cooper (@kjcoop) on
An ever-present worry in Washington is skin cancer. The state is among the top 10 for highest skin cancer incidence, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ultraviolet rays from the sun, even through cloud cover, can damage unprotected skin in as little as 15 minutes. Shade, clothing, hats, sunglasses and regular application of broad spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 15 can reduce the risk.
All of this week’s sunshine will be fleeting. Temperatures are projected to return to the mid-50s Saturday, with a chance of showers.
“Enjoy it while you can,” Albrecht said.
Ben Watanabe: bwatanabe @heraldnet.com; 425-339-3037. Twitter: @benwatanabe.
Safety tips
Keep your eyes on children at all times.
Remember that temperatures in rivers and lakes are still cold — in the mid-40s — this time of year.
Winter storms and floods mean rivers and lakes have changed and there might be new hidden snags, strong currents or sudden drop-offs.
Wear a life jacket.
Never swim alone.
Know your limits and abilities.
Stay out of the water if you’re impaired by alcohol or drugs.
