Joseph Leon Minton drowned trying to swim across the McKenzie river in 1994. Fourteen years later, the University of Oregon’s own redshirt freshman for the football team, Todd Lamar Doxey, died after a swimming accident in 2008. River accidents and fatalities are reported annually due to the cool water temperatures that come as a result from the mountain run off.
As the temperature rises in Eugene, college students love to head to the nearest bodies of water to cool off. Going to the McKenzie River sounds like a fun weekend adventure until, of course, someone gets hurt.
According to the World Health Organization, second to traffic accidents, the most common non-internalized cause of death for children and young adults is drowning and water accidents.
Following simple safety rules and making smart choices can make a visit to the river just as fun and exciting as it should be.
The McKenzie River is a direct runoff from the mountain, so even though the forecast for the day calls for 80 degrees and sun, the water can still be near freezing. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the McKenzie River can get as cold as 38 degrees and no warmer than 58 degrees.
Even the strongest swimmers have a hard time in the cold and quickly become too weak to swim due to hypothermia.
Hypothermia occurs when the body is exposed to abnormally cold surroundings. When this happens, the body temperature begins to decrease, and shivering and mental confusion occurs. Even though hypothermia happens gradually, the human body can become unresponsive in a matter of minutes.
The wave current and water levels on the river are also something to look out for. The McKenzie River has Class 2 and 3 rapids, meaning that the rapids either have inconsistent smaller waves, or that they have larger and irregular waves, making them more difficult to maneuver.
Despite the class of the waves, remember that a current of any size is strong enough to carry a swimmer in any direction.
As far as diving goes, make sure to check the surrounding areas. Cliff diving from any height is one of the most dangerous extreme sports. According to the Glen Canyon Natural History Association, cliff diving puts tremendous stresses on your body. If you jump from 20 feet above the water, you’ll hit the water at 25 mph giving the body an impact that is strong enough to compress your spine, break bones or give you a concussion.
If you still decide that you are experienced enough to jump, preview the surrounding area to ensure that the water is both deep enough and that there are no surrounding rocks or ledges.
John Miller, search and rescue coordinator for Lane County, suggests to play in the water, but to stay within your skill ability.
“There are lots of safety rules to deal with when you are out there. Learn how to read the water, understand how to float, don’t swim in our rivers and lakes alone, always have someone there with you and keep an eye on each other,” Miller said. “You’ve got to take care of yourself.”