Water Safety
It’s not just canals...
Acres of crops and orchards conceal more drowning hazards than you may think. In addition to canals, there are farm ponds, slurry storage pits, water-filled well tailings pits and wells. The best advice is to just stay away from them. If you MUST work near a canal, keep a few things in mind:
- Fast-moving water can knock you off your feet and skid you a long ways, even if it’s only a foot deep!
- Swift undercurrents and turbulence can drag you under and keep you there, even if you are an excellent swimmer.
- The sides of a canal, whether concrete or dirt, are often steep and slippery, which makes them almost impossible to climb.
- Watch out for grates, culverts and spillways. They can also be hazardous.
Keeping kids safe...
The U S Bureau of Reclamation provides irrigation districts with the materials necessary to put on safety programs for children. The program is undergoing renovation at this time, but we still welcome opportunities to visit local classrooms to have "Otto the Otter" talk about being safe around water. For more information, call Aaron Brooks at 586-9111.
Thank you!