Understanding the Risks of Swimming at a Marina in Lewiston, CA

There’s nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day than taking a dip in the water. Might as well dive right into the calm waters of the marina to cool off, right? Wrong! Swimming in the waters of a marina can be incredibly dangerous. Even a short dip into the water could end in disaster. There’s an abundance of unknown perils lurking beneath the placid surface. Some threats could seriously injure or even kill an uninformed marina swimmer. The conditions can change dramatically in only a few seconds if a boat were to unexpectedly pull into the marina or the weather were to take a sudden turn for the worse.

Here are a few things you need to know about the dangers of swimming in a boat marina in Lewiston, CA.

Propellers

Boat operators aren’t always able to see if someone is in the water in a marina packed with vessels. They could accidentally hit a swimmer, which could seriously injure or even kill them. Oftentimes, those in the water won’t know they are in the dangerous path of the propellers until it’s too late. The only way to avoid being hit by a propeller is to never swim in the waters of the marina in the first place.

Carbon monoxide poisoning

The dangers of carbon monoxide aren’t limited to the indoors. The boat’s drive motor and generators can emit dangerously high levels of this chemical while idling in the dock or cruising through the marina at a slow speed. Usually, the fumes are safely routed under the swim platforms, but a marina swimmer would be directly exposed to the high chemical levels. Carbon monoxide exposure can cause nausea, dizziness and even death.

Dirty water

Do you know what’s lurking in the water? Many marinas are polluted with urban runoff and sediment. The swimmer could unknowingly expose themselves to waterborne pathogens, chemical spills, grease, litter and electrical currents. Plus, there’s always the possibility that an irresponsible boater could illegally dump their holding tanks into the marina. This could cause serious skin problems or even internal problems if the water is accidentally ingested.

Electrical shock

There’s always the risk that a running boat could leak some of its electrical current into the surrounding water. Accidentally encountering this might cause serious injury or a fatal electrocution. Unfortunately, it’s next to impossible to know if there’s an electrical charge in the water, so it’s best to not stray from the safety of the dock or the boat while in the marina.

Dangerous waters

The seemingly calm waters of the marina could quickly turn into dangerous conditions. Most marinas are susceptible to strong currents caused by wind, tidal changes or heavy rains. A current could sweep even the strongest swimmers deep into the water.

It’s clear that swimming in a marina can have hazardous consequences—wait until the boat is in open water to take a dip or pull out the water skis. Trinity Alps Marina-Fairview values safety, so we urge all boaters and passengers visiting our marina in Lewiston, CA to always follow this important rule.

Categorised in: Boat Marina

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