Fun in the Sun!

It's sunny and that means fun in the sun and cooling off in our area's beautiful rivers and lakes. After enduring months of rain and cold, of course the Washingtonian has a ravenous, pent-up need for sunshine! Please remember that our rivers are swift and very cold, no matter what the outside temperature.


Swimming can be a great way to have fun while getting full body exercise. However, each year between 4,000 and 6,000 people drown in the United States. It is the second leading cause of accidental deaths for persons 15 to 44 years old. Shockingly, it is believed that two-thirds of the people who drown are believed to never have had any intention of being in the water. Since tragic water accidents happen quickly, we have compiled the following information to help everyone have a safe and fun summer.

By keeping these few simple things in mind, you can make your experience in the water much safer.
*Learn to swim before you go into the water. Sounds silly, but many people think it will come naturally, and it really doesn’t.

*Swim near a lifeguard so help is available if you need it

*Never swim alone

*Supervise children closely, even when lifeguards are present

*Don't rely on flotation devices, such as rafts, you may lose them in the water

*Alcohol and swimming don't mix

*Protect your head, neck, and spine by jumping feet first into unfamiliar waters

*As soon as you believe that you may be in trouble, call or wave for help

*Follow regulations and lifeguard directions

*Swim parallel to shore if you wish to swim long distances

Swimming and playing near water are favorite summer time activities of children everywhere. Parents and guardians need to pay extra attention and make sure they protect little ones from the dangers that water presents. Here are some points to consider about water safety for children.

*Never leave a child alone near water. Accidents happen in seconds, so if you have to leave, take your child with you.

*Watch out for neighborhood pools. Whether it is your own or your neighbors, toys that are left around the pool can attract children to the water.

*If you have a pool, make sure you surround it by a fence that is tall enough that children cannot climb over, and with a gate that locks.

*Enroll children over age three in swimming lessons taught by qualified instructors. Lessons won't make your child "drown-proof," but they will increase their safety and prepare them for a lifetime of fun in the water.

*Teach your children to always swim with a buddy.

*Always have a first-aid kit and emergency phone contacts handy.

*Parents should be trained in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

What the Frost?

Yes, it's true.  The National Weather Service has issued a frost advisory for our area.  Here are details:

 ..CHILLY NIGHT IN STORE FOR SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON AND NORTHWEST OREGON TONIGHT...


COOL HIGH PRESSURE FROM THE GULF OF ALASKA IS SETTLING INTO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST...BRINGING AN UNSEASONABLE CHILL TO THE AIR FOR EARLY MAY. SKIES WILL CLEAR IN MOST AREAS SHORTLY AFTER SUNSET.

THE CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS WILL PROVIDE OPTIMAL CONDITIONS FOR COOLING OVERNIGHT. RECORD COOL TEMPERATURES ARE POSSIBLE...

AS TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY APPROACH THE FREEZING MARK OVERNIGHT IN THE OUTLYING VALLEYS AWAY FROM METROPOLITAN CENTERS.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PORTLAND HAS ISSUED A FROST ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 8 AM PDT THURSDAY.

TIMING: LATE TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING.

TEMPERATURE: LOWER TO MID 30S.

IMPACTS: SENSITIVE OUTDOOR PLANTS MAY BE KILLED IF LEFT

UNCOVERED. BUDDING PLANTS AND TREES MAY ALSO BE DAMAGED DUE

TO NEAR FREEZING OR SUBFREEZING TEMPERATURES.

Are you in the Loop?

Are you one of the many Cowlitz County residents that no longer has a landline phone?  If so, you may be missing out on important emergency information.  Here is an example of our Emergency Community Notification System (ECNS) in action in Clark County.  (We have the same system) http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/may/05/folks-without-landlines-may-be-out-of-loop/

To opt your cell phone into the Cowlitz County ECNS system, visit our website http://www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/dem/ECNS.htm, click on the "Click Here" button and follow the directions to get your cell phone number registered.  If you have any questions, please contact our office at 577-3130 or by email at DEM@co.cowlitz.wa.us.

Help AmeriCorps and Longview Housing Help Veterans

The Cowlitz AmeriCorps team and Longview Housing Authority are holding a drive this month to help veterans who are moving into living facilities. There are always things that are needed when moving into an apartment or living facility. These are previously homeless or low income veterans.

Longview Housing Authority’s Veteran Integration Program (VIP) is partnering with Cowlitz AmeriCorps Network for a Veteran's Needs Drive.

When: armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 19, 2012

Drop off days
May 14th – May 18th, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Saturday, May 19th, 9:00 am – 4:00 PM
Where: 1312 Hemlock Street #22, Longview, WA 98632

We are in desperate need of your help to provide Veterans with the items listed below:

Move in kits, must be new items

Pillows

blankets

(2) bath towels

(2) wash clothes

Body wash

Tooth brushes

Tooth paste

Razors

Shaving cream

Deodorant

Shampoo

conditioner

Move out kits, new or gently used items

Basic cookware set

Dinnerware set for 4

Glassware set for 4

Silverware set for 4

Kitchen utensils

13 gallon trashcan/bags

Shower curtain/hooks

Can opener

Kitchen knife/cutting board

Measuring cups/spoons

Mop/broom/dustpan

Mop/utility bucket

For More Information about the VIP Program or the Veteran Needs Drive,

Please Call (360)423-0140 ext. 43

Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office Memorial Candlelight Vigil

The public is invited to this second annual memorial service on Thursday, May 17th in honor of National Police Week.

It will be in the parking lot of the Kelso-Longview Adventist Church, 77 Solomon Rd. Kelso, beginning at 8:30 p.m. At approximately 9:00 p.m. all emergency vehicles will turn on their spotlights and shine them directly into the air above. The vigil will end at roughly 9:30 p.m.

Directions to the facility are: From I-5 north or south, take exit 42 and turn west across the Lexington bridge. Turn south on SR-411, go approximately one mile, and the church is on the right. Patrol vehicles park on the main portion of the parking lot. Civilian cars park in the north lot.

Sheriff Warns of Cold Water Dangers

News Release: COWLITZ COUNTY SHERIFF MARK NELSON, GIVES WARNING TO BE CAREFUL AROUND COLD WATERS

Kelso, WA-There are many things that warn us of danger; alarms, sirens, flashing lights, even someone yelling to get our attention. Consider this letter a warning; a way to avoid danger, even tragedy.

Hi! I'm Cowlitz County Sheriff Mark Nelson. The increased frequency of nice late spring weather, as well as the oncoming summer, brings out boaters, fishermen, and people anxious to enjoy the beautiful lakes and rivers that help make Cowlitz County such a beautiful place to live. However, along with the fun of our waters, come the associated dangers. Within the past few weeks, we have seen boats capsize; people fall overboard and a couple of neighboring counties have experienced drownings. WARNING! The glacier-fed waters are cold, really cold, and they can cause even a strong swimmer to become quickly incapacitated.

Over my career, I have had to pull far too many bodies out of our lakes and rivers. These were the bodies of folks who came to enjoy a relaxing, fun filled day at the beach, or on the water, and lost their lives; leaving devastated families and friends to deal with the aftermath of a pleasant day gone very, very wrong. Just this past weekend, three boaters were tossed into the icy-cold waters of Yale Lake when their boat capsized. Fortunate for them, since none of them were wearing personal floatation devices, nearby boaters were able to get to them before they succumbed to the debilitating cold water.

It works like this: you hit the water. The shock of the cold causes you to take a sharp, but shallow breath. The blood in your extremities immediately begins moving away from your limbs and into your body's core to help keep your internal organs warm. But that causes you to struggle to force your arms or legs to work. The shallow breath that you took in when you hit the water is not sufficient to provide adequate oxygen to your brain, much less the rest of your body, and you begin to flounder. Breathing is nearly impossible, except sharp, short gasps. In moments you find yourself slipping under the water, and there's nothing you can do about it.

WARNING! Please wear a life jacket. Be responsible, not regretful. Set an example, and not statistics. Make sure young people with you wear a life jacket. Make sure you have a floatable ring or cushion to throw to someone who may be in the water and is in trouble. Have a lifeline with a loop on the end for someone to get at least an arm through, that they might be pulled to safety.

There won't likely be anyone to shout a warning to you before a disaster may strike, so please heed my WARNING and prepare. Our waters are beautiful, but can be very unfriendly to the unprepared.

Be safe. Enjoy the beautiful recreation afforded us by the good Lord's creation, and let's all enjoy our waters without injury or loss of life this year.

Contact Info: Sheriff Mark Nelson 360-577-3092

May is Volcano Awareness Month

Welcome to May, also known as "Volcano Awareness Month."  Click here for all the details on what to do in case of volcanic eruption.  If you truly want to make the most of Volcano Awareness Month, take a trip up to Mt. St. Helens and appreciate the fact that you have a front row seat to watch as nature repairs the damage done from 1980. 

Also, while you're there, please remind Mt. St. Helens to keep sleeping, nothing to see here, shhhhh.....