Open Water Safety
Water Safety in Colorado
In 2023, Colorado had 32 water-related deaths according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife unofficial records.
In 2022, a record 42 people died in water-related incidents. This is nearly double the 22 deaths that occured in 2021. These tragedies have been attributed to people not wearing lifejackets in and around the water.
Many water-related deaths and injuries are preventable—and a common factor is the absence of life jackets. Life jackets aren’t just for children or inexperienced swimmers; they’re essential for everyone on or near the water. Even if you don’t plan to get wet, unexpected accidents can happen in an instant. Wearing a life jacket can make all the difference.
Colorado's unpredictable weather also plays a part with strong winds and sudden changing weather conditions that result in many dive team rescues in the south Denver Metro area. Boats are easily capsized on lakes once the wind picks up, and we want our community members to know the weather can often be misleading, with afternoon storms rolling in with little to no warning. Make sure everyone is wearing a lifejacket, even if they don't anticipate going in the water.
Anywhere there is water there is risk of drowning.
- Always swim with a buddy.
- Don’t use alcohol or drugs (including certain prescription meds) before or while swimming, diving or supervising swimmers.
- Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when boating, paddle-boarding, or fishing, even if you don’t intend to enter the water.
Know What to Do in an Emergency
- Alert the lifeguard, if one is present.
- Rescue and remove the person from the water (without putting yourself in danger).
- Call 9-1-1 or ask another bystander to call for you.
- If the patient does not have a pulse, begin CPR immediately. If you're unsure how, the 911 dispatcher will guide you through Hands-Only CPR.
Visit our Classes Page to sign up for CPR/First Aid Classes with South Metro's Safety Foundation.
Read more from the Red Cross
Hear from South Metro's Dive Team
Be Weather Aware: Know Before You Go!
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Sign up for Weather Notifications
Pay attention to any alerts or warnings issued by the National Weather Service or other local authorities.
Weather conditions can change rapidly throughout the day, and the best way to stay informed is to sign up for the right type of weather notifications.
What type of weather app should I download?
The best weather applications for water activities will have the ability to send push notifications and will include the following:
- Wind Advisory
- High Wind Watch and Warning
- Severe Thunderstorm Watch and Warning
- Special Weather Statements
- Significant Weather advisory
Visit the National Weather Service Website to read the watch, warning, and advisory definitions.
To assist you, SMFR has included a link to a weather application whose free services include, but are not limited to, push notifications for wind advisories, high wind warnings, special weather statements, special weather advisories, severe thunderstorm warnings, and tornado warnings. Many other free and paid weather applications may provide these same notifications, and we encourage our communitymembers to research the options available to them.
