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Officials stress water safety

SWORD members recover bodies and vehicles from lakes and rivers

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As temperatures exceeded 90 degrees on Monday, people of all ages flocked to local waterways, including the Washougal River. Local officials recommend wearing life jackets and not mixing swimming with alcohol. "It's a really bad combination," said Doug Young, who works with the SWORD dive team.

As 90-degree temperatures heat up Camas and Washougal again this week, Southwest Washington Organization of Rescue Divers member Doug Young hopes swimmers pay attention to the hazards before they plunge into nearby lakes and rivers.

The number-one safety tip on Young’s list is to wear a life jacket. He said there are a variety of specialty jackets that make swimming safe and enjoyable. Auto-inflatable jackets fill up when the person wearing it is in the water. The rest of the time, it can be worn comfortably.

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