PORTLAND, OR – When the Pacific Northwest sees increasing outdoor temperatures, many people flock to their favorite lakes and streams to cool off. Tragically, this also leads to avoidable drownings and boating-related fatalities. That’s why officials are imploring recreators to wear a simple life-saving device – a life jacket.
“Many never intended to be in the water,” said Melissa Rinehart, Natural Resources Management chief for Portland District, USACE. “These are fathers, sons, brothers and friends who may even be good swimmers,” she said. “As we start seeing sunny weather, we forget how cold Pacific Northwest waters are. Your best defense against drowning is to wear that life jacket. And remember – you are a role model for all those with you on the water.”
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) data for its lands in 2024 shows that 91 percent of drowning victims are not wearing life jackets. That data also highlights that males are 94 percent of those who drown, and adults 18 and older are 87 percent of the victims…