{"id":16268,"date":"2023-08-31T08:45:27","date_gmt":"2023-08-31T12:45:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-health\/?page_id=16268"},"modified":"2026-04-15T13:31:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T17:31:03","slug":"river-safety","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-health\/environmental-health-services\/swim-healthy\/river-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"River Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-16268\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-16268-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-16268-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-16268-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-16268-0-0-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-46c7616ffdb5-16268\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/08\/Shutterstock_1575529153.jpg\" width=\"2000\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/08\/Shutterstock_1575529153.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/08\/Shutterstock_1575529153-300x120.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/08\/Shutterstock_1575529153-1024x410.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/08\/Shutterstock_1575529153-768x307.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/08\/Shutterstock_1575529153-1536x614.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" alt=\"River with rocks and rapids in forested area\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-16268-0-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor\" data-index=\"1\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<h2>Rivers and streams can be a refreshing way to cool off in the summer. Know how to protect yourself.<\/h2>\n<h3>Whether you\u2019re swimming, tubing, or just getting your feet wet, it\u2019s important to know how to protect yourself from river and stream hazards.<\/h3>\n<h3><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-16278 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/08\/Shutterstock_1311081704-300x250.jpg\" alt=\"weather conditions illustrated on cell phone\" width=\"300\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/08\/Shutterstock_1311081704-300x250.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/08\/Shutterstock_1311081704-768x640.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/08\/Shutterstock_1311081704.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Before you go:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Check to see what water activities are allowed, what is prohibited and why. Sometimes flooding, dirty water, or other dangers can make it unsafe.<\/li>\n<li>Check water and weather conditions. Summer thunderstorms can happen quickly. Be prepared by checking the weather conditions and knowing what could happen.\n<ul>\n<li>Water quality can change because of algae, chemical spills, or other pollution. Read signs and follow all warnings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Bring a buddy. Never swim, walk, or play in or near rivers and streams by yourself.<\/li>\n<li>Tell someone where you are going, when you will be back, and who they should call if you don\u2019t return.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>When you get there:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Watch for dangers like flooding, muddy water, fallen trees, trash, cliffs, low dams, or bridges. Stay away from fast-moving water.<br \/>\nKeep a close eye on children, even if they are far from the water. Kids can get into danger quickly, even if you look away for just a moment.<br \/>\nDo not jump on rocks or climb near waterfalls. Wet rocks can be very slippery.<br \/>\nIf you want to cross a stream, look carefully first. Think about where you might land if you slip. Never cross upstream of rapids, waterfalls, or dams.<br \/>\nDo not jump off waterfalls or dive into waterfall pools. There may be hidden logs or rocks under the water.<br \/>\nIf you fall into fast water, do not try to stand up. The water can knock you over and trap you. Instead, lie on your back with your feet pointing downstream and your toes up. Look downstream and use your feet to push away from rocks. Many people drown when their foot or leg gets caught under water.<br \/>\nIf you don\u2019t know how to swim, wear a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-health\/environmental-health-services\/swim-healthy\/life-jackets-and-floaties\/\">U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-16268-0-0-2\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor\" data-index=\"2\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<h3><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-16289 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/08\/Shutterstock_503218522-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"dial 911\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/08\/Shutterstock_503218522-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/08\/Shutterstock_503218522-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/08\/Shutterstock_503218522-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/08\/Shutterstock_503218522.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>If you have a water-related emergency:<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Call 9-1-1 for help.\u202f Time is of the essence. Be ready to tell the 9-1-1 operator the circumstances of your emergency (e.g. where you are located, the number of people impacted, etc.).<\/li>\n<li>DO NOT attempt a rescue by jumping into the water. Many people have drowned while trying to save someone. Only a person who is trained in water rescue should enter the water to rescue someone in trouble.<sup>1<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-16268-0-0-3\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-tabs panel-last-child\" data-index=\"3\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-tabs so-widget-sow-tabs-default-633cebc586c4-16268\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><div class=\"sow-tabs\">\n\t<div class=\"sow-tabs-tab-container\" role=\"tablist\">\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\tclass=\"sow-tabs-tab\n\t\t\t sow-tabs-tab-selected\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\trole=\"tab\"\n\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"unseen-hazards\"\n\t\t\taria-selected=\"true\"\n\t\t\ttabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-tabs-title sow-tabs-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUnseen hazards\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\tclass=\"sow-tabs-tab\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\trole=\"tab\"\n\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"currents-rapids-and-rocks\"\n\t\t\taria-selected=\"false\"\n\t\t\ttabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-tabs-title sow-tabs-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCurrents, Rapids and Rocks\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\tclass=\"sow-tabs-tab\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\trole=\"tab\"\n\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"tubes-kayaks-and-motorboats\"\n\t\t\taria-selected=\"false\"\n\t\t\ttabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-tabs-title sow-tabs-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTubes, Kayaks and Motorboats\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\tclass=\"sow-tabs-tab\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\trole=\"tab\"\n\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"low-head-dams\"\n\t\t\taria-selected=\"false\"\n\t\t\ttabindex=\"0\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-tabs-title sow-tabs-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLow Head Dams\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"sow-tabs-panel-container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-tabs-panel\">\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-tabs-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"tabpanel\"\n\t\t\t\taria-hidden=\"false\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<h2><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Rivers and streams might look calm, but there can be dangers under the water:<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Strong currents that can pull down even good swimmers.<\/li>\n<li>\u201cStrainers,\u201d which are trees or branches under the water that can trap you.<\/li>\n<li>Rapids with tight spaces between rocks where you could get stuck.<\/li>\n<li>A slippery, uneven bottom that can make you fall.<\/li>\n<li>Weak or unstable riverbanks, especially after heavy rain or flooding.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-tabs-panel\">\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-tabs-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"tabpanel\"\n\t\t\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<h2><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Currents can be stronger than they look, even when the water seems calm.<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>A current can knock you over and carry you downstream. Even six inches of moving water can be dangerous.<\/li>\n<li>Water levels can rise fast after heavy rain. When the water level changes, the strength and location of currents can change too.<\/li>\n<li>Rapids, or whitewater, happen when fast water hits rocks and makes foamy waves. Stay out of rapids unless you are specially trained.<\/li>\n<li>Do not jump on rocks or climb near waterfalls. Wet rocks can be very slippery.<\/li>\n<li>If you want to cross a stream, look carefully first. Think about where you might end up if you slip. Never cross upstream from rapids, waterfalls, or dams.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-tabs-panel\">\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-tabs-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"tabpanel\"\n\t\t\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<h2><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Floats and boats can be a lot of fun, but they also have risks.<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Have a plan. Know where you are going and how long it should take. Tell someone your plan and what to do if you don\u2019t come back on time.<\/li>\n<li>Check the river and weather. Weather can change fast and cause lightning or rising water levels.<\/li>\n<li>Think about safety. Wear a life jacket, a helmet, and river shoes to protect your feet. Stay close to your group. Wear sunscreen and a hat.<\/li>\n<li>Watch out for people fishing, and for their hooks and lines.<\/li>\n<li>Watch out for motorboats and other watercraft. If they can\u2019t see you, they might hit you. Wear bright colors so you stand out.<\/li>\n<li>Watch out for hidden river hazards and dams.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t boat or float beyond your skill level. Know the river, the rapids, and what you can handle safely.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-tabs-panel\">\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-tabs-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"tabpanel\"\n\t\t\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<h2><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\">Low head dams are very dangerous. Stay away from them at all times.<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>These dams can be hard to see from upstream, and many are not marked with signs or buoys.<\/li>\n<li>The water around dams is unpredictable.<\/li>\n<li>Many dams are built in a way that makes it almost impossible to escape once you get caught. Even the water just below the dam is dangerous because the churning water can pull you back toward the dam.<\/li>\n<li>Trying to rescue someone trapped in a dam is very dangerous and often does not work.<\/li>\n<li>If you are floating down a river, look ahead for danger. If you see a dam, get out of the river and walk around it. Go back into the river only after you are safely downstream of the dam.<\/li>\n<li>Visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/dwr.virginia.gov\/boating\/education\/lowhead-dams\/\">Department of Wildlife Resource's Low Head Dams website <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-21725\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/u_elq1vz823k-bitcoin-9620386_640.png\" alt=\"Leaving site\" width=\"14\" height=\"14\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/u_elq1vz823k-bitcoin-9620386_640.png 640w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/u_elq1vz823k-bitcoin-9620386_640-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/u_elq1vz823k-bitcoin-9620386_640-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 14px) 100vw, 14px\" \/><\/a> for more information<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rivers and streams can be a refreshing way to cool off in the summer. Know how to protect yourself. Whether you\u2019re swimming, tubing, or just getting your feet wet, it\u2019s important to know how to protect yourself from river and stream hazards. Before you go: Check to see what water activities are allowed, what is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":453,"featured_media":0,"parent":8591,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16268","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>River Safety - Environmental Health<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Whether you\u2019re swimming, tubing, or just getting your feet wet, it\u2019s important to know how to protect yourself from river and stream hazards.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-health\/environmental-health-services\/swim-healthy\/river-safety\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"River Safety - 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