After Weekend Drowning In Schuylkill, Officials Advise 'Don't Go In'
By Andrew Kramer
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Officials are warning of the dangers of swimming in Philadelphia creeks and rivers after a man drowned in the Schuylkill over the weekend in Manayunk.
If you're looking for a way to cool off in this summer heat, swimming in the Schuylkill River or other bodies of water in the area should not be an option, says Lt. Andrew Napoli with the Philadelphia Police Marine Unit:
"Unfortunately there's a lot of unseen dangers that lurk in the water. So we want people to avoid swimming in those rivers and creeks."
Strong currents continue to be one of the major concerns, says Napoli:
"They may not look swift when just looking at the river, but they actually are very swift. Even the strongest swimmers can not swim against those currents."
If you ever do find yourself caught in one, however, Napoli says don't just try to return to the area where you entered the water.
"Go with the current, swim at an angle towards the shoreline is what they want to do."
But strong currents aren't the only dangers when it comes to swimming in rivers and creeks:
"There's also unseen dangers under the water whether it's the normal rocky bottoms of the rivers and creeks, or just other things -- debris and stuff -- that have been thrown in throughout the years."
Napoli says most of the time it's perfectly fine to be at the edge of the water, "just don't go in."
He adds if you are just looking to escape the heat, go to one of the many pools throughout the city.