It almost happened today

[paddledog]

I have had nothing but positive response from all the SSPD.
Although not my normal hang out - I have been to the police station
more than once to help them with several different topics.
They had no idea and were very impressed with our gauges and radar sites.
I am working on correlating the three Illinois river gauges to help predict levels
that they need for when to go in and pull the trash and porta johns.
I have yet to meet anyone in the city admin. that has white water experience,
except the fire dept with swiftwater training. However, they are willing to
listen and learn all they can to better the park.
Introduce yourself and get to know the patrol officers, they know there is a
difference between WW and tubers.
(heads up not all officers will be in marked cars and uniform)
but you didn't hear that from me..........

[Roger]

"(heads up not all officers will be in marked cars and uniform)
but you didn't hear that from me.........." paddledog


But we did hear it from you!! It's right here on the innertubes.

[Charles1967]

...sure, but even in street clothes you can tell a cop a mile away.

[sig]

Standard issue haircut and mustache.

[panicman]

with brand new gratefull dead tshirt

[LarryT]

More kids wearing life jackets yesterday at the park but canoe carnage was high including one guy who lost his car keys / cell phone and dumped his baby in the lower pool. At least he had sense enough to grab the baby over the cell phone.

[Canoe_Codger]

More kids wearing life jackets yesterday at the park but canoe carnage was high including one guy who lost his car keys / cell phone and dumped his baby in the lower pool. At least he had sense enough to grab the baby over the cell phone.

Glad to hear the part about more PFDs being worn. The more the merrier. And safer. Baby on board? Hmmm... Hopefully at least a preschooler with rudamentery swimming skills and a good PFD. 4 years old and able to swim was/is my rule for my children and grandchildren. But to each his/her own I suppose.

Michael

[LarryT]

The baby / small child was no more than two. He was ready to sit the kid on a rock and find his stuff before my wife / another women could get the kid. Another kayaker helped him pull his canoe off of the rocks where it was pinned.

Might be good to have a sign above the top area advising those in canoes to walk their canoe through. Saw three do it and float there canoes through the fish ladder.

[Charles1967]

No...they just need a sign that says, "PADDLE!! PADDLE!! PADDLE!!"

[paddledog]

How many of the folks that are having trouble
navigating the waves are renters from 59 being
launched from the bridge?

[Charles1967]

I'd guess MOST. The ones I've helped recovery canoes and belongings were rentals.

[Charles1967]

Friends told me an ambulance was at the park last night. Don't know if it was even water related. Anybody know?

[LarryT]

From what I saw in two hours, 98% are launching at the bridge. Rafts and sit on top kayaks are going through ok. Canoes hit the first wave on the lower rapid, fill up and it's all over. The HWY 59 rental company should give the people a heads up.

[Benji]

I was at the park yesterday from about 1:30-4 with a friend that had been there Sunday evening. He said within 30 minutes time that he saw two incidents with swimmers. The first he saw/heard a young boy floating in the eddy below the second wave with his head barely above water shouting saying he had broken his ankle. He wet excited his boat and went after the child and upon getting him to shore got a look at the injury. A clean break and apparently the kids foot dangled to the side 45 degrees. Then not much after he saw an adult man dive into the first drop and try and brace himself with his arms. The guy apparently had a bone sticking through his skin from his elbow and his wrist. Multiple compound fracture? By his estimates there were around 200 people at the park. I saw the same kind of reckless behavior Monday, people diving onto the features from the rocks,small children that could hardly swim being knocked off their tubes without PFDs with very poor adult supervision. I think I saw one child out of about 50 that had a PFD on... I swam the set for the first time for fun and it is deceptively powerful IMO, I managed to swallow some of that lovely water and I consider myself a fairly strong swimmer...

[Charles1967]

Benji - Heard about that from PD. People are learning it is REAL. It is not the Schlitterbahn, with padded walls and fake vinyl boulders. I've been boating the Illinois down in Oklahoma for 9 years. Class 1 water. Safe as you can be. Every summer, every weekend, there is an ambulance hauling someone into Talequah. Diving on a rock, Half drowned & drunk/dehydration, or my favorite [and most painful to watch] rope swinging back into a clump of roots and rocks.

I talked to PD on my way out last night. Although, they aren't lifeguards by any means, they seem to be keeping a closer eye. The officer I spoke to saw a kid that seemed too small, alone and struggling, and assured he was supervised. He was on OT, so the city is taking patrol seriously.

Was out there Saturday, Sunday, and yesterday. Man, that river tasted bad yesterday! It was up quite a bit since Sunday afternoon!

Charles