King County first responders are pleading with the public to stay out of area rivers this weekend. The warm weather has snow melting in the mountains, and the rivers are running high, fast and cold.
Public Health-Seattle and King County issued what it is calling a "health and safety urgency," warning of the dangers of rivers.
“Frankly, the best advice is to stay the hell out of the rivers for right now," warned Tony Gomez, with Public Health-Seattle and King County.
According to the health department, there were 22 drownings in King County last year, five more than the previous year. Statewide, 140 people drowned last year compared to 100 the year prior.
The health department says parents need to talk to their teens about water safety with the same importance they would about drinking and driving.
A 16-year-old Issaquah teen drowned in the Snoqualmie River on Sunday. A woman ran into trouble in the Green River in Auburn on Tuesday and was listed in critical condition.
The Cedar River remains closed due to downed trees, but KIRO-7 found some areas of the river were not marked with closure signs.
Cox Media Group
