More people are spending time outside and the snow melt flowing into Utah’s creeks and rivers means water levels are rising and crews are on high alert.
Matthew McFarland from Unified Fire Authority gave us these three important things to remember:
1. Make sure to keep your distance from moving water, always keep children far away and watch them closely.
2. The snow melt is very cold and the water is moving very fast - the combination could be hazardous.
3. If you get caught in a situation where you are swept away, get to your back with your eyes up and feet pointing downstream. This will help you watch for obstacles and be able to breathe. They advise families to use extra caution because ankle deep water is all it takes to sweep a child or adult away and cause a tragedy. This is a concern for rescuers every spring. The threat will last about two months or until water in rivers stops rising.
For more information go to unifiedfire.org
