'Drowning is preventable': Authorities urge safety on Central Texas rivers, lakes this summer
As summer vacationers and families head to Central Texas rivers and lakes to stay cool during what is already looking like one of the hottest summers in at least a decade, local officials are reminding visitors to be safe while swimming, boating and tubing.
“We anticipate this to be a very busy summer.” said Mike Penshorn, operations captain for the New Braunfels police. His community sits where the Comal River flows into the Guadalupe River. “We want people to come and have a good time, but we also want them to do what they need to do to be safe.”
Penshorn said common calls include dehydration, parking issues and wrecks, and sometimes weak swimmers.
“So get here with plenty of time so you can find parking, stay hydrated with water, and wear a life jacket,” he said.
Amy Niles, river operations manager for New Braunfels, said all river users are encouraged to wear life jackets regardless of their swimming abilities. Free life jacket stations are at the entrance to Hinman Island and Prince Solms parks in New Braunfels. Lifeguards are at each of the chutes.
Rivergoers should also keep in mind that because the Comal River flow is slower than normal, the float time has nearly doubled, especially when it's crowded. The float averages an hour to about an hour and a half, but Niles said that has increased to more than two hours.
“So make sure you plan accordingly,” Niles said. “Bring plenty of water and snacks, and sturdy shoes.”
All food and beverages should be brought in reusable containers. Plastic, glass and foam are prohibited.
Additionally, Niles recommended creating a separation plan with family and friends.
“It is not uncommon to be separated from your group,” she said. “So decide with your group if you will stay where you are or float to the end and meet there.”
The Guadalupe River, the San Marcos River and the Highland Lakes along the Colorado River — such as lakes Travis, Austin and Buchanan — are also popular destinations in the summertime. Visitors to those locales can face similar dangers of dehydration, drowning or separation.
Kristen Dark, a spokesperson with the Travis County sheriff’s office, said Lake Travis is visited by more than 200,000 people every summer. While the lakes can be beautiful and refreshing, they can also be dangerous.
The bottom of a lake is uneven, and sudden drop-offs are common. Swimmers and boaters should also be aware of the hazards marked by buoys and channel markers that indicate objects below the surface of the water, such as debris, trees, rocks and other items, Dark said.
Jumping from cliffs, trees and dams seems fun, but is dangerous because water can be shallow in those areas. A Round Rock teenager died in May after jumping off cliffs at Lake Georgetown.
Safety is key for recreation, she said, and the most important thing is a life jacket, which can be found for free at various parks across Travis County.
In 2021, the sheriff’s office reported 10 drownings on Lake Travis, the most in recent memory. Three years before had seven drownings. At least one person has drowned in Lake Travis in 2022, according to county data.
“Drowning on Lake Travis is a tragedy that is preventable," Dark said. "All it takes is a life jacket. All it takes is a personal flotation device. ... It literally is the chance between life and death.”
In the event of an emergency on the water, follow these steps:
Call 911 immediately.
Throw a flotation device to the distressed person.
Know where you are on the lake. Use maps and landmarks.
Don’t assist anyone unless you’re wearing a life jacket.
Alert boaters around you with yells, a whistle or a horn.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas authorities urge safety while on rivers, lakes this summer
