Water Safety this Summer

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  With the weather heating up, it’s time to pull out the swimsuits and towels and cool off in the water. With options from Bisti Bay and Lake Farmington for outdoor fun to a variety of indoor spaces, the potential for fun is limitless. Keep the fun going all summer long by keeping you and your family safe in and around the water this summer. You’re watching the Local News Network brought to you by the Big Idea Makerspace at San Juan College and Durango Motor Company, I’m Connor Shrieve.

  The two things to be aware of, if you’re at Bisti Bay, it can get crowded if it’s packed to capacity. So though we have lifeguards on shift and they’re trying to scan and monitor at all times, there’s only, I would say at best eight to 10 of them if we are fully packed out there watching and there could be three or 400 people so they can only see so much at one time. We would encourage parents or guardians to also try and keep an eye on their kids as best as possible to help, because though they don’t have to perform the rescue, if they see something, they can yell out and the guards will respond.

  Bisti Bay hosts a variety of water slides, a lazy river and a pool playground to beat the heat during the summer. There are also food trucks available to help you stay fed and hydrated, but remember to always pack extra water and sunscreen when prepping for your trip to the park.

  I mean, you may think, oh, we’re only out there for an hour, and it just takes an hour to get burned and damaged. Like I said, hydration earlier is crucial, so there is a snack shack there, but if you wanted to bring your own water or electrolyte substance, that’s completely fine as well. We only have so many shaded areas and they can be reserved or it’s first come, first served, that they’re not reserved. And so once those go pretty quick, the other spots are kind of out in the sun. So if you have an umbrella that can function and you can control in the wind.

  With Lake Farmington opening up for the summer, make sure to leave room for some good waterproof footwear and a personal flotation device like a life jacket, especially if you’re planning on going for a swim.

  If they’re going to use our aqua park, we also require them use one of our life vest that we fit to them. It would be nice if people understood that they could wear footwear for their swimming. It is a beach like area, and there are rocks and stuff in the sand that can get your feet. Sometimes there’s sticks, some kid may come along and bury a stick, and you step hard enough and you discover it the hard way.

  When planning that summer day outing, make sure to keep an eye on the weather forecast and be aware of adverse weather conditions that may impact a day out on the water, summer storms that bring lightning and thunder. Also bring a sometimes overlooked element, wind.

  I can’t emphasize enough when you’re outside to be aware of the wind. The other thing, if you’re on the river, be aware of how much the flow of the river is and what you can handle. And even in like an indoor pool, know your limits and if you’re tired or if your body is showing you signs of fatigue and wanting to not do things, it’s not a good time to, oh, I’ll go to the deep end and touch the bottom. If you’re feeling that tired, just be aware of what your body’s trying to tell you and know that the water is an unforgiving place.

  Summer is a great time to brush up on swimming skills. The Farmington Aquatic Center offers swim lessons for all levels. Whether you’re a beginner looking to gain some confidence in the water or have a few years of swimming under your belt and are looking to take the next step, stay safe and have fun this summer. For more information about this and other stories, visit Farmington Local News. Thanks for watching this edition of The Local News Network. I’m Connor Shrieve.