cold water shock
Responsible recreation is urged over the 4th of July weekend at Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Thu, 07/02/2020 - 9:51am
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With months of people being under "Stay at Home" orders, and if the past few days are any indication, this holiday weekend will be busy at Lake Tahoe as people get out in the fresh air, hike, bike, go to the beach and get on the water.
The July Fourth holiday at Lake Tahoe will look a bit different this year with firework shows canceled, social distancing, the requirement of face coverings in public places and growing concerns about responsible recreation.
Washoe County Marine 9 rescues couple from Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Fri, 06/19/2020 - 2:32pm
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. - Washoe County deputies on board Marine 9 found a couple clinging to a deflated raft on Lake Tahoe around 3:00 p.m. Thursday, June 18.
Deputies aboard the boat were patrolling just northwest of the Thunderbird Lodge on the east shore when they spotted a number of items, including paddles and shoes, floating on the lake.
Column: Be aware of cold water immersion
Submitted by paula on Wed, 07/03/2019 - 1:51pm
Summer is here and after a snow-packed winter, locals and visitors alike are ready to get out and enjoy Lake Tahoe. Whether out on the water, lounging on the beach or hiking to a rock outcropping to take a plunge, there are important precautions to keep in mind with water surface temperatures and cold water immersion.
Lake Tahoe canoers stranded 3/4 mile off shore after boat takes on water
Submitted by paula on Mon, 06/03/2019 - 8:40pm
6/4/19 4:00PM Update: Details have been updated in Monday evening's incident on Lake Tahoe. The two people were in a canoe that took on water for unknown reasons about 3/4 of a mile off the shore of South Lake Tahoe. They ended up in the water and were there for about ten minutes before a local boater got to them and pulled them out of the water. The Nevada Department of Wildlife had a boat on the water that reached the group, followed by the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) boat. SLTPD got the pair off the local boater's boat and returned them to El Dorado Beach.
California man drowns in Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Sun, 08/05/2018 - 8:02pm
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The body of a 21-year-old California man was located in Lake Tahoe Sunday afternoon, more than 24 hours after he jumped off a boat near Edgewood Tahoe.
El Dorado County Sheriff's Office cadaver dogs alerted others to the body of the man about one-quarter mile off shore between Tahoe Meadows and Lakeside Marina just before 5:00 p.m. Sunday, according to South Lake Tahoe Police Officer Traci Trapani.
The identity of the man is being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin.
Two-person police team protecting South Lake Tahoe waters
Submitted by paula on Mon, 07/09/2018 - 5:57pm
A day on the lake is a dream come true for many, but for two South Lake Tahoe Police Department officers it's another day at the office. As they navigate Lake Tahoe they are looking for speeders, unsafe practices, life vests, drunk boaters and boat registrations, as well as responding to life threatening crashes and drownings.
"It's our little city out here," explained Steve O'Brien who has manned the South Lake Tahoe police boat for 17 summers.
Off-duty firefighters save life of man who fell off kayak in Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Tue, 05/15/2018 - 12:15pm
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A 22-year-old South Lake Tahoe man is alive today thanks to efforts of rescuers who were on the beach of Tahoe Beach Retreat on Thursday, May 10, when he went underwater after being on a kayak.
At 2:46 p.m., a call was made to 911 about a drowning man in the lake. When the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department arrived three minutes later, two off-duty firemen were on the scene already, along with the South Lake Tahoe Police Department.
South Lake Tahoe fire stations stocked with loaner life jackets
Submitted by paula on Wed, 09/20/2017 - 7:33pm
The use of life jackets saves lives, especially on Lake Tahoe where Cold Water Shock can kill a person in minutes.
It has been a deadly year on the lake, and the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) department has started a new program to help save lives in the future.
California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) has partnered with SLTFR in making life jackets available to the public on a loan basis. They have infant, child and adult sizes.
Family hopes UNR player's drowning in Lake Tahoe prevents more deaths
Submitted by paula on Tue, 08/08/2017 - 7:23pm
the father of a University of Reno football player who drowned in Lake Tahoe wants his son’s death to send a powerful message of safety on the water.
Marc Ma, 20, was recovered in the water off the Homewood shore last week, after going missing in June 2016 during a paddleboarding trip with friends.
One simple item will help save lives when on Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Mon, 07/17/2017 - 11:25am
LAKE TAHOE - Boating, rafting, kayaking and paddling are just a few ways to enjoy beautiful Lake Tahoe, but they come with simple safety precautions and preparations to ensure that day is complete and enjoyable.
"People are very excited to get on the water," said Edwin Lyngar, Nevada Department of Wildlife's (NDOW) Water Educator. "Take safety precautions as you can't depend on luck."
Lyngar as well as both California and Nevada water safety experts were at Sand Harbor last week to inform the public about how easy it is to be safe on the water.
Importance of understanding dangers of cold water shock
Submitted by paula on Wed, 07/05/2017 - 7:30am
With recent water tragedies in Lake Tahoe we are republishing this 2016 article.
The most common misunderstanding about swimming in Lake Tahoe is that people can suffer from hypothermia, which leads to death. The real truth is that "cold water shock" will kill much quicker than hypothermia ever will.
"The sudden lowering of skin temperature on immersion in cold water represents one of the most profound stimuli that the body can encounter." Golden and Tipton in Essentials of Sea Survival
South Lake Tahoe 4th of July weekend: Safety urged for for a fun holiday
Submitted by paula on Sat, 07/01/2017 - 9:59am
South Lake Tahoe area law enforcement, agencies and safety personnel are preparing for a very busy holiday weekend, full of people coming to enjoy all sorts of outdoor activities. With a very high lake level, and overflowing rivers, caution and safety are urged to have a fabulous weekend in Lake Tahoe.
And they aren't only going to be dealing with water safety. Rules and regulations along the beaches will also be enforced for safety reasons.
72 Miles of Pure Liquid Fun along the Lake Tahoe Water Trail
Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 06/07/2017 - 3:20pm
It’s going to be a paddler’s paradise this summer.
Importance of understanding dangers of cold water shock
Submitted by paula on Thu, 07/07/2016 - 7:13pm
The most common misunderstanding about swimming in Lake Tahoe is that people can suffer from hypothermia, which leads to death. The real truth is that "cold water shock" will kill much quicker than hypothermia ever will.
"The sudden lowering of skin temperature on immersion in cold water represents one of the most profound stimuli that the body can encounter." Golden and Tipton in Essentials of Sea Survival
The Nevada Department of Wildlife is increasing their educational campaign for boaters and swimmers to understand the dangers of cold water at Lake Tahoe.
Latest Lake Tahoe fatality identified
Submitted by paula on Tue, 07/05/2016 - 4:53pm
The man whose unconscious body was found on June 25 near a jet ski on Lake Tahoe has been identified.
A passerby found 21-year-old Jawahar Kaliyamurthy floating near the unoccupied jet ski east of Meeks Bay at about 11:38 a.m. on the 25th, called for help, pulled the man from the water and began CPR.
Deaths in Lake Tahoe attributed to cold water shock, not hypothermia
Submitted by paula on Tue, 06/28/2016 - 9:20pm
"Swim Smart, Swim Safe: know the dangers of cold water" is the message coming from agencies responsible for boating and water safety on Lake Tahoe, especially after the recent deaths in the lake of two healthy men.
Drowning incidents from boating, paddling and swimming often share the same cause, "cold water shock," an involuntary gasp reflex caused by sudden immersion in cold water. Swimmers and boaters suddenly exposed to the cold waters of Lake Tahoe may experience rapid breathing, gasping, fainting, muscle failure and immediate risk of drowning.
