Site Logo

City offers swim safety tips

Published 3:30 pm Monday, June 22, 2026

With hot weather upon us, the city of Mercer Island asks locals to stay alert to hidden dangers as they head to the Island shoreline to cool off. “The Mercer Island Police Department’s Marine Patrol Unit actively patrols the coast to keep the public safe and has already removed tons of debris left by recent flooding. However, submerged hazards may still be present, risking entanglement or drowning,” the city said. With Lake Washington remaining deceptively cold beneath the surface, a city notice said that scenario can quickly trigger muscle failure or hypothermia, even if the air temperature is hot. “Preventable drownings remain elevated across King County, with Lake Washington accounting for nearly 30% of recent open-water fatalities. Exercise caution by never swimming alone, using a lifejacket, and staying within designated swimming areas and close to shore,” the notice added. Visit King County’s website for more tips to swim safely: <a href="https://link.orlo.us/txuoM" target="_blank">https://link.orlo.us/txuoM</a>. Photo courtesy of the city of Mercer Island

With hot weather upon us, the city of Mercer Island asks locals to stay alert to hidden dangers as they head to the Island shoreline to cool off. “The Mercer Island Police Department’s Marine Patrol Unit actively patrols the coast to keep the public safe and has already removed tons of debris left by recent flooding. However, submerged hazards may still be present, risking entanglement or drowning,” the city said. With Lake Washington remaining deceptively cold beneath the surface, a city notice said that scenario can quickly trigger muscle failure or hypothermia, even if the air temperature is hot. “Preventable drownings remain elevated across King County, with Lake Washington accounting for nearly 30% of recent open-water fatalities. Exercise caution by never swimming alone, using a lifejacket, and staying within designated swimming areas and close to shore,” the notice added. Visit King County’s website for more tips to swim safely: https://link.orlo.us/txuoM. Photo courtesy of the city of Mercer Island

With hot weather upon us, the city of Mercer Island asks locals to stay alert to hidden dangers as they head to the Island shoreline to cool off. “The Mercer Island Police Department’s Marine Patrol Unit actively patrols the coast to keep the public safe and has already removed tons of debris left by recent flooding. However, submerged hazards may still be present, risking entanglement or drowning,” the city said. With Lake Washington remaining deceptively cold beneath the surface, a city notice said that scenario can quickly trigger muscle failure or hypothermia, even if the air temperature is hot. “Preventable drownings remain elevated across King County, with Lake Washington accounting for nearly 30% of recent open-water fatalities. Exercise caution by never swimming alone, using a lifejacket, and staying within designated swimming areas and close to shore,” the notice added. Visit King County’s website for more tips to swim safely: https://link.orlo.us/txuoM. Photo courtesy of the city of Mercer Island

You Might Like