Cold water safety tips ahead of the warm weekend

• 15 occurred on human-powered vessels like canoes, kayaks and paddleboards, and 14 of those were not wearing life jackets, he said.

Driving the news: Most drownings in Western Washington happen in May and June, when warm weather draws people to the water, said Ted Buehner, a local meteorologist.

• Washington waters remain cold year-round, with spring and summer temperatures that can range from the upper 40s in snow-fed rivers to the low 50s in lakes and Puget Sound, he said.
• Even strong swimmers can be hijacked by cold water shock, which can cause involuntary physical reactions like gasping and hyperventilation and lead to drowning

Be smart: Before you go, tell someone where you are going, check water and weather conditions, review basic safety recommendations and have a reliable form of communication, such as a VHF radio tuned to Channel 16, said U.S. Coast Guard Lt. and Commanding Officer Thomas Bower.

• Remember the 1-10-1 rule of cold water immersion: You have one minute to bring your breathing under control, 10 minutes to self-rescue while you can still move your limbs and one hour of consciousness before hypothermia sets in.