SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento area Drowning Accident Rescue Team [DART] will be working along the Sacramento and American rivers each weekend through Labor Day to keep folks safe.
The all-volunteer non-profit team hopes to educate beach goers on water safety and to help in the need of rescue. Crews were stationed at Tiscornia Park on Fourth of July weekend.
The area is one of the most dangerous spots on the American and Sacramento rivers because it's where the two rivers meet, said Cole Glenwright with Sacramento’s DART.
“So, this beach that we’re seeing right here, it’s pretty deceiving right. You can see folks, small children wading only maybe up to their knees near the shore,” Glenwright said. “And then, by the time you’re only a few feet out, that looks like a full grown adult out there and he’s almost over his head. So, it drops off very quickly here.”
DART is also urging everyone to wear a life jacket. Children under 13 are required to wear a life jacket by law in Sacramento County.
They’re also warning people to be weary of water temperatures despite the hot summer air. The Sierra snow-melt fueled rivers still have temperatures around 60 degrees, which is enough to put a person into shock and can lead to drowning.
Since DART started patrolling along the beaches four years ago, the average number of yearly drownings in the area have dropped from 15 to one, Glenwright said.
The team hopes people will have fun and be safe, so they don’t have to rescue you.
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