Water Safety

Water accidents are the second most common cause of death in Yosemite National Park.

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Water Safety Details

Water-related accidents are the second-most-common cause of death at Yosemite each year, trailing only motor-vehicle crashes. Many others have to be rescued from the park's lakes and rivers due to misadventures while swimming, boating, rafting, or falling in the water. Hazards include: * mountain water that can be cold even on the hottest day, quickly causing hypothermia * currents that can sweep you away from shore and into hazards faster than you can swim * submerged tree branches, cables, gaps between rocks, and other obstacles that can trap you in or under the water, even in a slow current To prevent accidents: * obey no-swimming signs -- don't even wade into the water in places like Emerald Pool above Vernal Fall, the site of numerous incidents every year * don't count on your swimming skills to get you out of trouble: being a good ocean swimmer doesn't prepare you for swimming in swiftwater, for instance * if you do fall in the water, lay on your back with your feet floating above water and pointing downstream, unless you are close enough and strong enough to swim for shore * wear the required personal protective equipment (PPE) when boating, including at least a life jacket and also a helmet, wetsuit, whistle, and knife as appropriate for your activity

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