The Plateau community has been feverishly brainstorming ways to create a safe summer on Lake Tapps. Drownings have always been a concern in the area, but three deaths at the lake last year marked a particularly tragic season. A SwimSafe community meeting was held on May 22 at Lake Tapps Middle School to further address the current implementations and strategies for the near future.
There was a strong community presence; among those in attendance were Pierce County Councilman Dan Roach and Bonney Lake Mayor Neil Johnson. The meeting was sponsored by the city of Bonney Lake, Pierce County, Bonney Lake Police Department, Sumner School District, Dieringer School District, East Pierce Fire and Rescue and Cascade Water Alliance.
The evening commenced with demonstration videos, interactive exercises, informational literature, snacks and freebies such as awareness bracelets and coupons.
The East Pierce Fire and Rescue booth invited everyone to place their hand in a bucket of water to illustrate how cold Lake Tapps actually is. Lake Tapps is fed by glacier water, which makes cold water shock or incapacitation a major factor when analyzing traumatic events. Even in the heat of summer, the water in Lake Tapps is capable of causing immobility.
Besides the dangers of cold water shock, their booth also placed an emphasis on carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur after a long day on the boat, said Dina Sutherland, East Pierce Fire and Rescue public education specialist. Symptoms can vary from mild to severe and include irritated eyes, headache, nausea, weakness and dizziness.
Bonney Lake police officers Daron Wolschleger and Todd Green demonstrated a make-believe boating exercise that they facilitated while teaching elementary school kids about water safety. Johnson and Roach both participated in the demonstration, alongside North Tapps Middle School students MyKenna Swigart and Bowen Packer. Four chairs were set up with life jackets underneath. The participants were asked to pretend as if the chairs were a boat. During a simulated crash, Johnson, Roach and the two students had a frantic 10 seconds to locate and properly put on their lifejackets. The result was comical and a very sound learning experience.
As Roach said at the meeting, community officials can talk until they are blue in the face but real change is seen when individuals from within the community stand up and start looking for answers.
The community has done just that. One group of seventh grade students at North Tapps Middle School has designed and planned a memorial which will serve as a reminder that the danger is real. Other SwimSafe plans include the possibility of LED signage, dock numbering and continued attention to boater and water safety education. A reward system will also be put in place. Bonney Lake police officers will hand out awards and coupons to kids who are seen properly wearing lifejackets at the lake.
Wolschleger said that all the area elementary schools have received safety demonstration assemblies and now the goal is to start branching out for older kids. Mountainview Middle School has already scheduled theirs and others will likely follow.
“The hardest part is coordinating our schedules with the schools so that we can get in there,” he said. “We enjoy it and so do the kids. The most rewarding part is when they soak up the information and you can tell they are proud of themselves.”
Locals are looking forward to the warm days of summer and visitors will soon begin to frequent the lake once again. The education and awareness efforts of SwimSafe will hopefully prevent Lake Tapps from claiming any more lives.
