Drowning is silent, not the Hollywood version of splashing and screaming. When water enters a person’s nose and mouth and then airway, they can’t speak or call for help.

Drowning can also happen fast—in less than a minute, for a child. It’s the number one cause of death for children under age five. According to Stop Drowning Now, a water safety advocacy group, 88 percent of those drownings take place with at least one adult present.

Signs indicating distress include a person swimming ineffectively or bobbing in water in an uncoordinated way; unable to keep their head above water; unable to talk or yell; attempting to roll onto their back but being unsuccessful; and/or displaying a panicked facial expression.

At rivers and lakes, most drowning victims are teens and young adults (age 15-25). Even for those who know how to swim, prolonged immersion in cold water—any water less than 70 degrees Fahrenheit, which applies to all Northwest lakes and rivers—can lead to fatigue and hypothermia.

Spent energy and exhaustion can prevent people from keeping their head above water or make them too tired to shout for help. Head injury or other trauma (e.g. from cliff jumping, rope swinging) can also render a person unconscious and unable to stay above water.

Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)

No one is ever too old (or too cool) to wear a life jacket. Even though I worked as a lifeguard for eight years and was a competitive swimmer, I still wear a PFD whenever swimming in a lake or river.

According to the experts from NRS (Northwest River Supplies), based in Moscow, Idaho, “In the event of an on-the-water emergency, you won’t be able to help your child if you’re struggling to stay afloat. Besides, wearing your own life jacket demonstrates that safety is important to you. And what’s important to you will seem important to your child.” 

Laws require children to wear a PFD whenever aboard a vessel (age limits vary), including any non-motorized paddle craft, like a kayak or stand-up paddleboard. (NRS and REI have online advice for PFD fitting.)

Additionally, children should wear PFDs whenever in or near water, including on a dock or riverbank. Experts also advise those age five and younger to wear a PFD whenever on a beach.

Cold Water Shock

Sudden immersion in cold water, whether from falling off a dock (or intentionally jumping off) or because of an overturned watercraft, causes a gasp reflex, which can allow water into the airway. Gasping underwater risks inhaling water.

The initial shock of cold water immersion causes “involuntary gasping, hyperventilation, vertigo, and panic,” according to the Washington State Parks’ webpage for boating safety, and can last 3-5 minutes.

This can lead to suffocation by drowning (when water enters lungs) or cause a laryngospasm, when the larynx involuntary closes and inhibits breathing, which can cause “dry drowning,” an event when no water enters the lungs. For laryngospasm self-rescue, exhale to relax larynx and open airway by arching/tilting back head.

Hyperventilation (over-breathing), whether from cold water shock or overexertion, lowers the body’s carbon dioxide levels and can lead to a loss of consciousness or force a person to take a breath while submerged.

Wearing a PFD prevents a person from staying underwater and allows for a quicker rescue. Which makes it the best way to swim safe at a lake (or other open-water area like a river or ocean), no matter the age or swim-skill level of a person.

Water Rescue At A Lake: Reach, Throw, Row, Go

Adrenaline and instinct can prompt a rescuer to go into the water. But would-be rescuers risk becoming drowning victims themselves unless they are prepared.

Experts advise following these 4 steps for a rescue, should you need to attempt one (applied here to a lake setting when a distressed swimmer isn’t wearing a PDF):         

1. Reach: Extend an arm, paddle, or other object (brace yourself to prevent being pulled into deep water).
2. Throw: If too far away to reach, throw a floatation item to the person in distress.
3. Row: For rescues from a farther distance, paddle/boat to the person and then perform steps 1-2.
4. Go: As a last resort, swim to the victim (while wearing a PFD yourself). It can be a good idea to take along a flotation device to help them stay afloat until a rescue boat arrives.

Water Safety Checklist For Lake Swimming

Here are 3 key ways to minimize drowning risks in any swim setting, from StopDrowningNow.org. These are vital whenever at a lake, whether it’s a public park, private residence, or remote setting.

1. Designate a “Water Watcher”: undistracted (and completely sober) supervising adult who remains within arm’s length of swimmers at all times.
2. Remove toys from the water’s edge when not in use.
3. Have an emergency action plan: SDN recommends teaching children to “Reach or throw, don’t go! Let someone know!” Caregivers should all know how to swim and provide CPR.

For further reading: “Water Safety for Lakes, Rivers, and Beaches” from Washington State Department of Health; “Open Water Safety Checklist” (lakes, rivers, oceans) from Safe Kids Worldwide.

Amy McCaffree is Out There Kids columnist and enjoys paddling and swimming with her family.

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I love heading to Fish Lake southwest of Spokane because of its proximity to where I live, water temperature, and it is a good size to get in a few lengths for a nice workout. I also like how seemingly ridiculous I look walking through the crowd of sunbathers and floatie loungers with my bike shorts like swim wear, goggles, and sometimes flippers.

Wearing goggles makes gazing at underwater lake life possible, including frogs and fish, the underside of lily pads, and just viewing a seldom seen aquatic world.

Open-water swimming has its own unique challenges: swimming in a straight line isn’t all that easy without lane guards, it takes time to get used to colder water, and it helps to be comfortable treading water. But it is sure nice to gaze at the birds and clouds while you’re doing the backstroke.

For more stories about swimming, visit the OTO archives.

Learn about other lake destinations and recreation in the 2021 Inland Northwest Lake Guide.

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First, the pools are closed, and then the races are cancelled: no Lake Meridian mile race, no Omi mile on Lake Coeur d’Alene, no Flathead Lake Swim Series, no 1.76-mile Long Bridge Swim in Sandpoint, no 2.4-mile Coeur d’Alene Crossing, and (maybe) no 1.5-mile Lake Chelan Swim or 1-mile San Diego SharkFest. There will be no sharing pre-race tips and jitters. No starting horn blasts, adrenaline rush, frothy water, all arms and feet, pulling, twisting, slicing through dark water, and the over-all-too-soon race finish. So what now? 

Wild water swimmers love gliding through open water. The more experienced among us relish the challenges of cold, deep, dark waters; waves whipped by winds; and close calls with raging otters and territorial mergansers. Leaky wetsuits or foggy goggles? No problem. We like a challenge and we deal with adversity.  

We were made for these Corona Times! So what new challenges will we devise? What innovative ways will we connect, share tips and joys, and find purpose in our swimming? And how can we share our love of this sport to inspire new swimming adventurers? Here are some new challenges. 

How many lakes can I swim?   

My wish list of 25 lakes I’d like to swim just grew to 29. Of the first five, I can report that Fish Lake offers amazing giant lily pads in bloom and a round-trip distance of a mile. Medical Lake provides longer distances and sightings of great blue heron, painted turtles, ducks, cormorants, and red-winged blackbirds galore. Watch out for the wicked fun current on Spirit Lake, and please, someone tell me where the beach is on Cocolalla!  

My favorite, Lake Pend Oreille, gives me cooler temps and rocky cliffs plunge deep below the surface. It also offers channels, bays, miles of undeveloped wild shorelines, and very unpredictable winds for on-the-spot thrills or meditative nature wanderings. I am also tantalized by visions of new water adventures in Deer, Loon, Sacheen, Eloika, Diamond and Marshall lakes and the very small, warmer Round, Shepard, Mirror and Muskrat lakes. 

How far can I swim?   

Can 5.3 become 6 miles this summer? Soon, Pend Oreille water temps will reach balmy 60s. Who out there will join me to cover chunks of the 111-mile shoreline? All are welcome! For a world-renowned challenge, the ultra-competitors may seek a Spokane group prepping for English Channel crossings.   

How can I stay connected?  

When venturing out to the lakes, there is much we swimmers need to know. What is the water temp in Medical Lake today? How strong is the wind on Pend Oreille? Are there whitecaps?  

We have so many tips to share, too! How can you know if a wetsuit fits? How can you best defog your goggles? What are the pros and cons of insulated caps and gloves? Where can you get those orange safety floats? How do you repair wetsuit tears? How can you meditate while swimming? What other questions might you have?  

To stay connected during Corona Times and beyond, check out Facebook groups for wild swimmers in your area, such as Western Washington Open Water Swimmers or Oregon Wild Swimming. These groups, in general, are open to experienced swimmers and to those newly considering wild water swimming. The purpose is to provide a way to connect, share swimming tips and stories, congratulate each other, and keep the swimming community vibrant and strong. [Editor’s Note: As of this posting date, there were no Facebook public groups for “wild swimmers” in the Spokane area, eastern Washington, or north Idaho.]

Eventually the races will return. We’ll heave a sigh of relief and find our swimming world expanded by new wild water adventures, bolstered by Facebook friendships, and informed by our shared wisdom.

Susan Hales finds post-employment flexibility to be wonderfully freeing for swimming, cycling, kayaking, and hiking in summer and snowshoeing in winter. Wild water swimming is her absolute favorite activity. 

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Calling all open water swimmers. We know you are out there. The ones who pull off I-90 for a dip at the Vantage boat ramp. The ones who hastily shed backpacks to plunge into glacial alpine lakes.

There is no body of water that does not tease you, no water too cold, too rough or too wild to challenge you. You swim the lakes, rivers and coasts, testing your limits with the cold, chop, and distance. You meet up at open water races in the Coeur d’Alene, Pend Oreille and Flathead, hungry to learn of other nearby events.

What is Open Water Swimming?

Open water swimming (OWS) is growing rapidly, especially since joining the Olympics in 2008. If you haven’t tried it yet, or if you’re bored swimming laps, this could be a great opportunity to explore a new athletic frontier. OWS is not just for the Diana Nyads and Olympic hopefuls.

Whether you swim a race to say, “I did it!” or strive to beat your record (or sister, like me), everyone can connect through common race strategies. On race day, we check-in, attend the pre-race meeting, then crowd the beach, impatient until, finally, the starting horn. We plunge in, an excited mass of arms and feet in frothy water.

Heading off, we sight the first race buoy and look beyond to more buoys marking the course. Kayakers and paddleboarders make sure we don’t stray, and help anyone in distress. Nearing the end, buoys direct us to a well-marked finish line and a cheering crowd. Electronic or volunteer time keepers note our time. At the closing ceremony after the race, awards are presented to the winners.

Races in our snow-fed lakes are not warm pool parties. Hearty adventurers wear just swimsuit, goggles and cap. They train in very cold water, sometimes putting on a few pounds for insulation.

Susan Hales swimming at Medical Lake. // Photo: Summer Hess

Gear for Open Water Swimming

The rest of us appreciate specialized gear. Fortunately, we have come a long way since swimmers crossed the English Channel wearing aviator goggles and a thick layer of bear grease for warmth.

The most basic piece of OWS equipment is the neoprene, triathlon wetsuit. These come in full body, short sleeve and leg, and farmer john sleeveless styles. They are designed for warmth and speed and add buoyancy.

Thickness varies from 5mm, wonderful for very cold water, to the more popular 2 and 3mm varieties. Thinner arms and shoulders provide stroke flexibility.

Fit is crucial for comfort and safety, so it is best to try out a wetsuit before buying. The perfect wetsuit is snug and may require some psychological adjustment to get used to, but it will protect you for hours in our northern lakes and extend your swim season by many months.

OWS Safety Precautions

The first rule of swimmer safety is to swim with a buddy. The addition of a bright, safety float makes us visible to any boaters. Mine is a drysack, handy for a space blanket, snacks, and bringing home a newspaper from across the bay.

Preparing for your first open water race also means getting used to no lanes, no flags, and no clock over the swimming pool. With practice, breathing normally and sighting along the surface become second nature. Open water swimmers train for distance endurance and finish speed.

I recommend beginning in the late spring or early summer with one-mile swims in Medical Lake or Liberty Lake. As Pend Oreille warms, I take two, then three mile and occasional longer swims, broken up by shorter one-mile swims.

Every open water swim trains us for the unusual and unexpected cold, wind, sun, rain, waves, and currents on race day. For me, training swims are aesthetic, sensory experiences of pulling, turning, and gliding through space and time.

Eagles fly overhead, deer glance up from the shore, fish dart away, submerged fallen trees reach up with shaggy branches, and underwater boulders create the remarkable sensation like you’re flying over mountains. You’ll never know how much fun it can be unless you give it a try.

Looking to give open water swimming a try? Sign up for one of these events around the Inland Northwest this summer.

• Flathead Lake Swim Series: Flathead Lake, Montana (10k, 5k, 1 mile, or .5 mile)
• Long Bridge Swim: Lake Pend Oreille, Sandpoint, Idaho (1.76 mile), August
• Coeur d’Alene Crossing: Coeur d’Alene Lake, Idaho (1.2 mile or 2.4 mile), August
• Lake Chelan Swim: Lake Chelan, Washington (1.5 mile), September – first Saturday after Labor Day

Susan Hales has a ritual of swimming across the bay to pick up the Sunday paper. It’s only a 1.9-mile swim from her cabin on Lake Pend Oreille to Odie’s Bayside Grocery.

Learn more about open water swimming with these stories from the OTO archives.

[Updated: June 2021]

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