Two instances of tubing rescues on Sunday in Lyons has the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office reminding the public to stay safe on the water.
At about 12:40 on Sunday, Boulder County Communications was notified of two 10-year-old children in tubes who needed rescue at LaVern Johnson Park. The two children were tubing with their father, who was waiting to catch them downstream, according to a press release.
The children arrived faster than expected, knocking the father down and floating past. One child fell out of her tube near the shore and was rescued by bystanders, while the other made his way to the opposite side of of the creek.
Firefighters from Lyons Fire Protection District provided first aid to the injured child and helped the second child back to his family. The injured child was evaluated by paramedics and transported to a hospital with minor injuries.
Shortly after the conclusion of the first rescue, at about 3:45 p.m., seven people who had been tubing got stuck on the far side of the creek in the same location. The Lyons Fire Protection District was again able to access all seven and assist them back to the park. No one was injured.
The sheriff’s office said high temperatures of the past week have increased snowmelt, with creeks in Boulder County flowing at near peak runoff levels. The sheriff’s office recommends conservative decision making around water.
Some other safety tips to consider:
- Wear a Life Vest. Choose the right Personal Flotation Device (PFD). Not all life vests are the same.
- Know Conditions. Creeks in Boulder County are filled with melted snow – they are always cold. People can easily experience hypothermia in the water. Always check weather and river conditions. Plan your put-in and take-out points. Certain areas can be incredibly dangerous.
- Float Sober. The unpredictability and variety of river obstacles require your full, unimpaired attention.
- Show & Tell. Make sure someone not in your party knows your route and timeline. If plans change, put a note in your vehicle on the driver’s side dashboard. Write your name and number on your vessel. If you and your vessel become separated, this helps responders verify if someone is missing or in need of help.
- In the Water. Get on your back with feet pointing downstream. Don't stand up or try to walk out. Swim as close to the shore as possible then crawl or scoot out to avoid entrapment in the rocky shore.
- Reach or Throw, Don’t Go. If someone is caught in fast moving water, reach out to them or throw a rope to the person in the water. Do not attach the rope to yourself in any way or enter the water or you may also become in need of rescuing.
- Call 911 ASAP. Call with details about the location of the incident. Make sure someone has a waterproof phone available.
- Stay Detached. Never tie anything to anything – including you. If you connect to something, including another tube, and encounter an obstacle, the situation can be more dangerous.
