Vancouver, Wash. – With lifeguards on duty at Klineline Pond, Clark County reminds parents they still need to supervise their children at the popular swimming spot in Salmon Creek Regional Park.

Lifeguards started working at Klineline Pond last Sunday and will be on duty, 11 am-7 pm daily, through the end of August. The splash pad next to the pond is open the same hours.

Clark County Code prohibits adults from leaving children unaccompanied in or near a lake, pond or other waterway. The majority of lifeguard rescues at Klineline Pond stem from children not being supervised by adults.

Klineline Pond lifeguards rescue children and adults who are drowning or in distress, provide emergency medical care for park users who are sick or injured, conduct searches for missing children, educate the public about safe water recreation, and perform minor park maintenance duties.

Klineline Pond lifeguards this summer already have conducted two rescues and three missing person searches. To work at Klineline Pond, lifeguards must complete 40 hours of open water lifesaving training and 21 hours of medical training.

Having lifeguards on duty reduces the inherent dangers of swimming and playing in the water, but park users are urged to follow basic water safety at all times. Parents should be particularly vigilant watching young children near the water since drownings can happen swiftly and silently.

Life jackets can prevent such tragedies. A properly fitted life jacket should be snug, but comfortable. When lifting the shoulders of the jacket, the child’s chin and ears should not slip through.

Park users can borrow a jacket from the loaner station at Klineline Pond. When finished, please return jackets to the station and hang them up to dry.

About 4,000 children, teenagers and adults drown in the U.S. each year. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths among children and teenagers 1 to 14 years old, trailing only motor vehicle crashes. Drowning is the second leading cause of all deaths among children 1 to 4 years old, trailing only birth defects. In Washington state, an average of 25 children and teens drown each year.

More information on summer swimming and water safety is available on the county’s website.

CONTACT
Eric Christensen
Parks facilities coordinator
Public Works
360.397.2285 ext. 1680
eric.christensen@clark.wa.gov