By Geoff Smith (@GeoffSmithLNN on Twitter)

Caution advised when floating on Oldman River

May 30, 2018 | 10:23 AM

LETHBRIDGE – The recent hot weather has put thoughts of floating peacefully down the river into people’s minds. But it might not be the best time of year to do so.

John Kesslar, a Lethbridge firefighter/paramedic and water rescue co-leader, says due to spring runoff the Oldman River is more hazardous right now than it would be later in the summer.

“Things that include possible difficult access points to the river, along the river bottom, as well as an increase in the amount of debris that’s floating in the water,” he said in an interview, “as well as increased forces because the water’s moving faster and at larger volume.”

Kesslar explained one of the biggest hazards is the weir. Anybody who starts upstream must exit the water before reaching it and can return to the river downstream. He also said things like air mattresses that aren’t designed to float can become damaged and sink.

It’s also important for river floaters to let someone know where you are and when you’ll be finished.

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“Most of the time when we get called out it’s because people go out onto the river and don’t let anybody know where they’re going, or how long they’re going to be. Or they’re usually incorrect with the amount of time that they’re going to take to go from point A to point B. Or they may miss getting out at point B.”

And he stresses wearing a life-jacket, something that isn’t legally required in Lethbridge. Calgary has a bylaw requiring life-jackets.

“We see a number of instances where life-jackets are in the boat, but people don’t understand that in a water emergency, you may not have enough time to even put a life-jacket on.”

Earlier this week, Calgary issued a boating advisory for the Bow River, but Kesslar said its faster flow is due to it being more naturally-fed.