Yesterday we watched as an adolescent was pulled from lake Washington, unconscious and blue. A by stranger did chest compressions for several minutes as we waited for EMS. Thankfully the kid woke up and was breathing on his own when they took him to the hospital. Please be careful out there, that was a terrifying experience.
Cold water is a hazard:
“In King County, many rivers and lakes stay between 50 and 60 degrees in summer. Swimming in this cold water – even when the temperature outside is hot – can trigger a physiological response that leads to panic, rapid breathing, and drowning, especially without a life jacket.
“King County’s lakes, rivers and marine waters are spectacular but can also be dangerous,” said John Taylor, Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Parks. “Even strong swimmers can experience muscle failure from cold water shock within seconds. And rivers that appear calm can have strong currents and hidden obstacles.””
submitted by /u/Polybrene
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