By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

City of Red Deer issues river safety tips for long weekend

May 18, 2018 | 4:12 PM

The City of Red Deer has issued a list of tips and reminders for how to remain safe on the river this long weekend.

Red Deer Emergency Services advises river-goers to use common sense and to assess the river prior to entering.

Tips include:

o Estimate your time of arrival and make sure someone knows your itinerary. 
o Be prepared for unexpected conditions and pack your raft/boat with suitable warm clothing, water and other necessities in case of emergencies. 
o Life jackets should be worn at all times. 
o Carry oars or paddles to navigate and avoid obstacles. 
o Use proper floating devices. Inflatable toys are designed for floating on lakes, not in flowing waters. 
o Do not tie rafts, tubes or dinghies together. When rafts are tied together, rafters run the risk of getting caught up around bridge pillars and floating debris. 

Residents should also note that alcohol consumption while on the river is illegal and violators can be fined. It’s also illegal to park along highway embankments, including the QEII Highway. 

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The City also asks that everyone respects the river and the natural environment by taking your garbage with you, recycling beverage containers and disposing of discarded rafts responsibly. 

According to the Alberta River Basins website, the Red Deer River is about 10 centimetres higher on Friday than it was on Thursday, the highest it’s been since May 11. However, it’s still substantially lower than in late April when flooding happened in Waskasoo Creek and around Red Deer County.