SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Kitted out in dry suits, something people use to survive in arctic waters, CAL FIRE engineer James Michels, along with other members of the Placer County swift water rescue crew, demonstrate a rescue in the American River — highlighting the dangerous speed and temperature.
“The conditions now at the moment are about 54 degrees temperature,” Michels said. “If you’re not wearing any thermal protection, the chances of you surviving more than just a few minutes in the water without being overcome by that, is very, very slim.”
Multiple emergency agencies from Placer County aided and attended the demonstration, including Placer County Sheriff’s.
Sgt. Kevin Griffiths said they are spreading a message that this year’s water conditions are different thanks to a snowpack he said is still sitting at 320%.
Griffiths reported one person in Placer County has already died this year in the river and another is missing.
He said visitors not local to the area are usually the ones that don’t realize the immense dangers that aren’t just isolated to Placer County rivers.
“This is a phenomenon all across the state of California,” Griffiths said. “And if you look at what happened in Kern County days ago on the Kings River, where they recovered a 4-year-old and an 8-year-old child that was just trying to make it out to a rock that they had already swam to with their family. That’s going to happen across California unless we get people to understand this year is different.”
Officials in Placer County report they receive 23 river rescue call outs a year. So far this year, 13 call outs have already been made.
Auburn State Park Superintendent Mike Howard said that since 1983, 54 people have drowned in the park.
He said as much as they are warning people of the dangers, one age demographic isn’t heeding the advice.
“Sixteen to 24-year-old males, I’m talking to you,” Howard said. “You’re the ones drowning in these rivers at a far higher rate than anyone else.”
For Michels, the demonstration means there is no loss of life this time, but he said they know flows will stay fast for months, and more fatalities loom on the horizon.
“Everyone understands it’s going to be a trying summer this year. We know those tragedies are going to happen,” he said.
It’s an emotional and mental toll on the family, friends and emergency personnel. Michels said he hopes the deaths will be as rare an event as this year’s extreme flows.
If you want to cool off in water, Michels recommends doing it in a lake or other body of water that has no current and you know the temperature is safe.