{"id":392128,"date":"2026-07-09T15:41:46","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T15:41:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/392128\/"},"modified":"2026-07-09T15:41:46","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T15:41:46","slug":"essential-river-safety-tips-for-sacramento-swimmers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/392128\/","title":{"rendered":"Essential river safety tips for Sacramento swimmers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sacramento\u2019s rivers have long been a refuge for residents seeking to escape the summer heat. As temperatures rise, swimmers and boaters alike are eager to enjoy the waterways located near the city, or just outside it.<\/p>\n

But experts say water-lovers should exercise caution, whether they\u2019re taking a dip or launching their boats.<\/p>\n

The cold, fast-moving water can create unexpected dangers for anyone, even experienced swimmers, they say.<\/p>\n

Tragedy can follow. In April, a 19-year-old drowned after jumping into the water at Tiscornia Park in an attempt to save a young relative. The child survived, but the teenager did not.<\/p>\n

Local safety officers and elected officials gathered Wednesday morning to offer advice for anyone heading to a river this summer.<\/p>\n

These are the best ways, they said, to keep yourself and your family safe.<\/p>\n

\"Paris Paris Garcia, 5, of Sacramento wears a life jacket as she looks for shells in the American River at Sacramento’s Tiscornia Beach on July 3. The park provides free life jackets for children. REN\u00c9E C. BYER rbyer@sacbee.com Life jackets<\/p>\n

Life jackets are vital, safety officers and Sacramento city council members said.<\/p>\n

In an emergency, \u201ca life jacket gives you precious time,\u201d according to Sacramento Fire Department spokesperson Capt. Justin Sylvia. \u201cIt helps keep your head above water, even if you\u2019re injured, exhausted or experiencing cold water shock.\u201d<\/p>\n

They\u2019re especially important for kids, added Councilmember Roger Dickinson.<\/p>\n

\"Achilles Achilles Dixon, 4, left, and Tuwa Dixon, 7, right, both of Sacramento, wear life jackets at Tiscornia Beach on July 3. The park provides free life jackets for children. REN\u00c9E C. BYER rbyer@sacbee.com <\/p>\n

\u201cDrowning is the leading cause of injury related death among children 1 to 4 years of age,\u201c said Dickinson.<\/p>\n

For kids under 13, life vests are also required by county ordinance.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cStep up. Take a life jacket, whether you\u2019re a child or an adult,\u201d Dickinson said. \u201cBut most importantly, remember that for children, it\u2019s the law in Sacramento County.\u201d<\/p>\n

Councllmember Eric Guerra advised parents to be proactive.<\/p>\n

\u201cI encourage everyone to make sure you have a life jacket in your garage. Even a used one will help you,\u201d he said Wednesday morning. \u201cAs your kids are growing up, right at the beginning of summer, when you\u2019re cleaning out the garage, let\u2019s check the life jackets. Do they fit them? Are they ready to go?\u201d<\/p>\n

Life vests are also available to borrow at some Sacramento-area parks. Swimmers can grab one off an outdoor rack and return it when they head home.<\/p>\n

Boating rules<\/p>\n

Sacramento\u2019s local waterways are an valuable resource for boat-lovers in the area, but changing water conditions and strong currents require operators to stay alert.<\/p>\n

And before anyone can set sail, they need to obtain a California Boater Card.<\/a> Issued by the state, the card\u2019s application process required boat operators to complete a safety course.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis education helps operators understand the rules of the water, navigation, emergency procedures and safe boating practices that protect not only themselves, but the waterways they\u2019re sharing other vessels with,\u201d said Sgt. Sam Flores, a representative for the Sacramento County Sheriff\u2019s office, on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Those rules will be enforced by sheriff\u2019s deputies and Sacramento police officers. Representatives from both agencies said they would be patrolling local waterways, ensuring boats are properly equipped with safety gear, including Coast Guard-approved life jackets, throwable flotation devices, fire extinguishers and navigation lights.<\/p>\n

\"A A Sacramento County Sheriff\u2019s Marine Enforcement patrol boat sits by the shore during a summer water safety press conference held at Tiscornia Park in Sacramento on Wednesday. LIBBY SIMPSON libby.simpson@sacbee.com Understand the risks<\/p>\n

Rivers can be livelier than pools, but they require swimmers to be aware of the dangers that come alongside swimming in nature.<\/p>\n

Sacramento\u2019s cold waters can shock swimmers\u2019 systems, making it difficult for them to keep themselves afloat, said Sylvia, the fire department representative.<\/p>\n

River currents are often swifter than they appear, and dam releases upstream can cause water levels to fluctuate quickly, he said.<\/p>\n

Other dangers lie under the water\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n

\u201cHidden obstacles such as trees, rocks, changing sandbars, debris can trap, injure, trap or injure swimmers and boaters,\u201d said Sylvia.<\/p>\n

Sacramento\u2019s public safety officials agree that life vests are the best protection against any and all of these challenges. Residents should enjoy themselves, they said, but remain vigilant.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake a few minutes to prepare,\u201d advised Sgt. Justin Boyd, a representative for the Sacramento Police Department, on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cWear a life jacket, check your safety equipment, don\u2019t operate under the influence, keep a close eye on children,\u201d he said. \u201cKnow your limits and look out for one another.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Claudio Claudio Garcia, 6, of Sacramento wears a life jacket while playing in the sand at Sacramento’s Tiscornia Beach along the American River on July 3. The park provides free life jackets for children. REN\u00c9E C. BYER rbyer@sacbee.com
\n Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n


\n \"Profile
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Haley Parsley<\/a><\/p>\n

The Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n

Haley Parsley is a summer reporting intern for The Sacramento Bee\u2019s Capitol Bureau. She holds a master\u2019s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland, where she was a fellow at the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism. While there, she reported on immigration policy in the state. She has previously reported in Oklahoma City.\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Sacramento\u2019s rivers have long been a refuge for residents seeking to escape the summer heat. As temperatures rise,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":392129,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[121,123,122],"class_list":["post-392128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sacramento","tag-sacramento","tag-sacramento-headlines","tag-sacramento-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/392128","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=392128"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/392128\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/392129"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=392128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=392128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=392128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}