The Sacramento Fire Department hosted its third annual Drowning Prevention Event on Tuesday.
The department showed us a mock water rescue along the American River near Discovery Park. This year, they have had 20 water rescues already — the total number they had last year altogether — and even though many were rescue missions for the unhoused during flooding, they are expecting higher call volumes.
Firefighters say high river flows make it more dangerous.
"The water is higher, it's moving faster and it's colder than previous years," said Capt. Justin Sylvia, spokesperson for the Sacramento Fire Department.
"With that, there are a lot of entanglements, so wear a life jacket," Sylvia added. "Because as you're floating down in these faster currents, you could get snagged on something and that current will just push you under."