Anonymous
Post 06/18/2026 18:03     Subject: Great Falls Drowning
Lifeguard here.

Please, please, please stop making the “this is why it’s important to learn to swim” comments. It goes so far beyond that. Learning to swim is important, yes, but even more important is following the rules that are clearly posted, especially near oceans, lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and other bodies of water.

Even highly experienced swimmers can lose control for any number of reasons. There’s even a YouTube video of an Olympian struggling to stay afloat during a race because she got a mouthful of water from another swimmer’s wake heading the other direction. On Olympic synchro swimmer almost died a few years ago.

Accidents happen, even with experienced swimmers who are following the rules. Add on all the riptides, animal threats, rocks and dangerous reeds and seaweed, and experienced swimmers can run into trouble, as of course can someone who doesn’t know how to swim.

I have a friend who almost died in a kayak because she wasn’t wearing a life jacket, and a sudden storm came up. She’s been a strong swimmer and kayaker for decades. Be careful, and remember it’s not only about “being able to swim.”
Anonymous
Post 06/18/2026 17:50     Subject: Great Falls Drowning
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is it no longer common knowledge that you never ever swim in the Potomac?


Apparently not, but where these kids got in there are signs! Parents, share the story with your children. Teen brains think they’re invincible and it won’t hapoen to them. Sadly reminds me of the kid eaten by the alligator at Disney where signs everywhere not to wade in the water. Yet…


I stayed at that actual Disney resort twice before that alligator attack. Once years before and once a few months before.

There were no obvious visible signs about the alligators.

The area was set up like an actual sand beach, withe a gentle, gradual beach like wading slope into the still water. They had sand toys on the beach and childrens areas nearby. The water taxis did not mention alligators. The hotel staff at chevk in did not mention alligators. The descriptions of the beach did not mention alligators. It was advertised by Disney and the hotel as a beach, with no notable alligator warnings.

We walked along that beach with our kids. The only reason we didn't allow them to wade in the water was that it was January and chilly.

Disneyworld created a beach that they advertised as a beach with beach activities and no real verbal or visible warnings about alligators.

Disney does not have bugs, bees or mosquitos. Of course its logical to assume they didn't have alligators in what looked exactly like a normal swimming/wading beach, especially since Disney did not highlight the alligator risk.

Disney was completely at fault, not the parents or child.


And you’ll notice that Disney quickly and quietly settled. Not analogous to the current situation at all.
Anonymous
Post 06/18/2026 17:08     Subject: Great Falls Drowning
Anonymous wrote:I believe the average drownings are 6-7 PER YEAR. There are lots of signs posted.


Clearly, we need to post full time staff at this location to protect people. No modern nation should tolerate this loss of life.
Anonymous
Post 06/18/2026 15:43     Subject: Great Falls Drowning
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know there are signs there but on a nice, sunny Sunday, you think there would have been Park Rangers or more people that would have seen the group and told them to get out of the water.


Do you have any clue how few park rangers there are? Have you not paid any attention? They're incredibly short staffed and since the evil orange man started throwing fits, there are fewer.

DO NOT BLAME PARK STAFF!


Drownings in that area predate orange man
Anonymous
Post 06/18/2026 15:42     Subject: Great Falls Drowning
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know there are signs there but on a nice, sunny Sunday, you think there would have been Park Rangers or more people that would have seen the group and told them to get out of the water.

My husband advised a group of young men once and they talked back disrespectfully.


Watch any Tourons of Yellowstone videos and you'll see people be vile to anyone who suggests they stop being idiots. There are too many of us now and too many hate rules. We are a world of people who feel any rule is a violation of our basic rights.


It's social media.
Anonymous
Post 06/18/2026 15:41     Subject: Great Falls Drowning
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is it no longer common knowledge that you never ever swim in the Potomac?


Apparently not, but where these kids got in there are signs! Parents, share the story with your children. Teen brains think they’re invincible and it won’t hapoen to them. Sadly reminds me of the kid eaten by the alligator at Disney where signs everywhere not to wade in the water. Yet…


I stayed at that actual Disney resort twice before that alligator attack. Once years before and once a few months before.

There were no obvious visible signs about the alligators.

The area was set up like an actual sand beach, withe a gentle, gradual beach like wading slope into the still water. They had sand toys on the beach and childrens areas nearby. The water taxis did not mention alligators. The hotel staff at chevk in did not mention alligators. The descriptions of the beach did not mention alligators. It was advertised by Disney and the hotel as a beach, with no notable alligator warnings.

We walked along that beach with our kids. The only reason we didn't allow them to wade in the water was that it was January and chilly.

Disneyworld created a beach that they advertised as a beach with beach activities and no real verbal or visible warnings about alligators.

Disney does not have bugs, bees or mosquitos. Of course its logical to assume they didn't have alligators in what looked exactly like a normal swimming/wading beach, especially since Disney did not highlight the alligator risk.

Disney was completely at fault, not the parents or child.
Anonymous
Post 06/18/2026 15:18     Subject: Great Falls Drowning
I believe the average drownings are 6-7 PER YEAR. There are lots of signs posted.
Anonymous
Post 06/18/2026 14:41     Subject: Great Falls Drowning
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know there are signs there but on a nice, sunny Sunday, you think there would have been Park Rangers or more people that would have seen the group and told them to get out of the water.

My husband advised a group of young men once and they talked back disrespectfully.


Watch any Tourons of Yellowstone videos and you'll see people be vile to anyone who suggests they stop being idiots. There are too many of us now and too many hate rules. We are a world of people who feel any rule is a violation of our basic rights.
Anonymous
Post 06/18/2026 14:38     Subject: Great Falls Drowning
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know there are signs there but on a nice, sunny Sunday, you think there would have been Park Rangers or more people that would have seen the group and told them to get out of the water.


And who would be paying those extra park rangers? NPS budget doesn’t cover it.


I don't know that this PP meant extra park rangers. I think on such a beautiful day, Trail A would be busy, and the regular rangers and hikers would have noticed this group and suggested they get out of the water. Regardless, it is so sad, and I am devastated for this grieving family.


You are not getting it. I went to a park and there were no park rangers. An unpaid volunteer took us around.

The budget has been cut by trump. He hates parks.


I'm sorry I had no idea the NPS funding was cut that much. That is terrible and rangers could have possibly held to avert this horrible tragedy.


Maybe if they had one at every quarter mile making sure people don’t swim. That’s what the signs are for.


Every 500' would be better. This would create good paying government jobs that we desperately need in this area.


You both are insane. No park has ever been funded for this type of ridiculousness. Ever. Adults need to manage themselves.
Anonymous
Post 06/18/2026 14:36     Subject: Great Falls Drowning
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know there are signs there but on a nice, sunny Sunday, you think there would have been Park Rangers or more people that would have seen the group and told them to get out of the water.


And who would be paying those extra park rangers? NPS budget doesn’t cover it.


not in the Trump Admin. Didn't they cut NPS funding?


DOGE cut NPS and park rangers. They want to sell the lands to their friends.

People die when those who can protect us are fired for no reason.



and they never had enough staff prior to all of this...
Anonymous
Post 06/18/2026 14:35     Subject: Great Falls Drowning
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know there are signs there but on a nice, sunny Sunday, you think there would have been Park Rangers or more people that would have seen the group and told them to get out of the water.


And who would be paying those extra park rangers? NPS budget doesn’t cover it.


I don't know that this PP meant extra park rangers. I think on such a beautiful day, Trail A would be busy, and the regular rangers and hikers would have noticed this group and suggested they get out of the water. Regardless, it is so sad, and I am devastated for this grieving family.


Please explain what a regular ranger is. What on earth makes you assume a ranger would have been near them in this huge park at that specific time? You think they can just post someone there all the time? You don't get out much.
Anonymous
Post 06/18/2026 14:33     Subject: Great Falls Drowning
Anonymous wrote:The deceased looks very attractive + charismatic in his pics. Such a sad story.

I was a lifeguard and swim teacher for many years in HS + college. Sadly, many US cities closed public pools so many people never learned to swim.


and that matters SO much...
Anonymous
Post 06/18/2026 14:31     Subject: Great Falls Drowning
Anonymous wrote:I know there are signs there but on a nice, sunny Sunday, you think there would have been Park Rangers or more people that would have seen the group and told them to get out of the water.


Do you have any clue how few park rangers there are? Have you not paid any attention? They're incredibly short staffed and since the evil orange man started throwing fits, there are fewer.

DO NOT BLAME PARK STAFF!
Anonymous
Post 06/18/2026 11:35     Subject: Great Falls Drowning
This is an old article from 2013 but the infographics is excellent - The perils at Great Falls.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/local/the-perils-of-great-falls/
Anonymous
Post 06/18/2026 10:39     Subject: Great Falls Drowning
Anonymous wrote:They were TRYING TO CROSS MD TO VA.????
Very sad but omg it is a wonder they all didn't die.



No kidding! There are signs everywhere telling people not to swim, but I don't think they explain that the reason why is because of the strong under currents.

Not that it maters. Even with signs people think they are invincible and do what they want. We hiked to a beach and long they way there were numerous signs warning hikers not to swim at the beach due to the rip currents. There was even a sign with notches to show the number of people who died there, almost 100. Still went we got there there was a young woman in one group who went in for a swim.