The canals are filling up — it’s time to talk about water safety
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IDAHO FALLS — More than 35 canals in Idaho Falls will fill with water this week along with hundreds more across eastern Idaho, which means it’s that time of year to speak to your children about the dangers of playing near canals.
Most canals and ditches in the Idaho Falls area are expected to be filled with water by April 15. Local irrigation officials say during the first couple weeks, water levels are expected to be high in order to flush out debris like tree limbs and trash that often block head gates and smaller ditch runoffs.
Idaho Falls Fire swift water rescue instructor Scott Grimmett warns against playing near irrigation canals or the high banks of the Snake River.
He says that if you do fall in, the first thing you need to do is stay calm.
“We have found that taking a moment to calm yourself can greatly increase your survival rate,” Grimmett tells EastIdahoNews.com.
The best thing you can do is not panic, and the safest position is on your back with your feet facing downstream, Grimmet says. “Use your feet to avoid objects, keep your head upstream and use your arms to backstroke towards the banks.”
Another risk this spring is that due to the significant snowmelt, canal banks are saturated with water and can be less stable. Children or adults walking alongside canals risk the ground beneath them breaking through into the cold water.
Grimmett says if you see someone fall in, the best thing you can do is be a good witness. Call 911 for help, watch the victim, follow the victim and relay all the information to the dispatcher.
“If it’s within the city limits our response time is 3 to 4 minutes, outside of city limits, add driving time,” Grimmett says.
Idaho’s higher water levels and stronger currents this year could lead to greater risk of drownings in water. Undercurrents and ditch head gates below the water level have the potential for powerful, unseen suction that’s not understood by curious children or young adults.
The water in canals often flows swiftly and once a victim is in the water, getting out is extremely difficult and in some areas could be impossible.
Officials with the Idaho Department of Heath and Welfare say Idaho lakes and rivers can also be cold enough to cause hypothermia, even in the summer and among the strongest swimmers.
“Right now the water is right around 40 degrees,” Grimmett says. “For those who slip, trip or fall into water at that temperature, they are going to experience muscle cramps and difficulty maneuvering.”
Most canals and rivers at one point receive water from the bottom of reservoirs, which also is a contributing factor to the extremely cold temperature.
Drownings are not the only risk posed by irrigation canals. Even playing in irrigation water can cause illnesses or even death from possible ingestion of feces, pesticides and other toxins in the water.
Irrigation districts often use chemicals to de-weed canals and ditches, which helps with the water flow. According to irrigation district employees, the chemicals used can cause skin irritation and can even be fatal to pets.