18 Rescued From American River in Past Week

Sacramento Metro Fire officials are advising American River floaters to use heavy duty, multi-chambered rafts if they go in the water at all.

Despite the 100+ degree weather, American River water temperatures haven't even hit 50 degrees yet. The cold temperatures coupled with a water flow moving more than 12,000 cubic feet per second makes conditions along the river more dangerous than is typical for this time of year.

have responded to 18 rescue calls in seven days. The reasons have ranged from people becoming stranded due to popped or overturned rafts, while others simply lose control of their boat negotiating the turbulent currents.

"Some people are hitting the Pacific Coast Aggregate Bridge (also known as the Sunrise Avenue walking bridge) because they have a couple rafts tied together,” said Sac Metro Fire spokesman Scott Cockrum. “They hit one of the columns and everyone ends up getting thrown out. It’s been a whole variety of everything.”

Fortunately crews have not responded to any fatalities; most have been near drowning calls or to fish stranded people out of the water.

“Fire engineers were out there during training one day and responded to someone who was underwater and unresponsive,” Cockrum said.

When the body comes into contact with the frigid water of the American River it immediately reacts by working harder to maintain a certain degree of warmth. This escalated exuded energy fatigues the body at an increased rate, making it that much harder to swim against the swift moving water.

“If they were up on the upper American River they’d be wearing a life jacket,” Cockrum said. “This isn’t that different along the lower American: Where normally you wouldn’t have to wear a life jacket, you have to now.”