Health officials are asking people to be careful while venturing into waterways like Nanaimo River this time of year. (Alix Stupich-Baxandall)

By Ian Holmes

swift rivers

Island Health preaches water safety as heat picks up

May 13, 2023 | 10:05 AM

NANAIMO — While the first heatwave of the spring isn’t deemed a considerable health threat, the same can’t be said for those looking to cool off in rivers and lakes.

Dr. Shannon Waters, a medical health officer with Island Health, said planning to go for an outdoor swim could be taking an elevated risk if proper precautions aren’t taken.

“Rivers can be running a lot faster than usual with the snowpack, there can be a risk of drowning this time of year,” Waters said

Our bodies may not be prepared for the chilly water, particularly freshwater destinations like rivers fed by glacial run-off, she added.

Swimmers have been known to get hypothermia during the spring when the water appears warmer than what it actually is.

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“That can also contribute to the risk of drowning.”

As for those staying away from rivers, lakes and the ocean, Dr. Waters said they’re not predicting a lot of negative health impacts with daytime temperatures hard-pressed to surpass 30 degrees on the coast over the next several days.

However, she said it appears mid day temperatures will hit Island Health’s heat warning criteria in the coming days.

Dr. Waters said thankfully cooling overnight provides an important reprieve.

“At this time of year we’re going to cool off sufficiently during the night time, so that people’s bodies have time to recover and people’s homes cool off.”

Looking ahead to pending warming conditions in the coming weeks and months, Dr. Waters emphasized to check in on how vulnerable people like seniors are doing.

Island health has a heat safety page, complete with tips to mitigate negative repercussions of summer-like weather.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes