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FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - As families cogwheel up to bask the agelong Memorial Day weekend, section officials are issuing a renewed warning: Stay alert and workout utmost caution astir each bodies of water, particularly canals, which are not intended for recreational use.
With Memorial Day marking the unofficial commencement of summer, the imaginable for water-related incidents increases significantly.
In Fresno alone, officials reported 8 drownings betwixt May and December of 2024. So acold successful 2025, 1 drowning has already been recorded, prompting urgent reminders up of the holiday.
“You know, conscionable encouraging everyone to delight beryllium safe,” said Josh Sellers, nationalist accusation serviceman for the Fresno Fire Department.
As temperatures ascent and residents caput to pools, rivers, lakes, and unfortunately, adjacent canals, nationalist information becomes a apical priority.
Water Can Be Fun — But It’s Also Dangerous
“As we spot these accrued temperatures, folks are ever looking for a bully mode to chill disconnected and person fun,” Sellers said. “But that tin travel with immoderate hazards.”
The top risk, officials stress, is to young children. According to the American Red Cross, drowning remains the starring origin of decease for children successful the U.S. — peculiarly those aged 1 done four.
“We bash see, unfortunately, drownings present successful the metropolis of Fresno and passim the region each year,” Sellers added.
Top Safety Tip: Always Supervise Children
“The fig 1 happening is to ticker your children,” Sellers emphasized. “Any clip kids are adjacent h2o — whether it’s a pool, lake, oregon stream — marque definite there’s big supervision.”
Drownings tin hap successful seconds and often hap silently, which is wherefore adjacent experienced swimmers should beryllium watched intimately successful unfastened h2o settings.
Stay Out of Canals — No Exceptions
Another increasing interest involves the unhoused colonisation and different residents entering canals during the summertime months.
“Canals are not recreational waterways,” said Sellers. “They should ne'er beryllium entered for immoderate reason.”
Although they whitethorn look calm oregon inviting, canals are incredibly dangerous. Hidden debris, beardown currents, and steep drop-offs tin rapidly crook fatal.
“There’s a batch of hazards — things radical tin get caught on, oregon the existent itself,” Sellers said.
Stay Safe This Summer
Water information should ever beryllium apical of mind, particularly arsenic summertime amusive begins. Parents and guardians should instrumentality clip this Memorial Day to speech to their children, cheque their excavation barriers, and brushwood up connected swimming skills.
For much accusation and h2o information resources, sojourn redcross.org.
