Lake Tahoe Posts

Boating & Swimming Safety in Lake Tahoe - Summer has arrived and with that, it is a good time to review summer water safety tips – specific to Lake Tahoe. We all know the temperature of Lake Tahoe is a bit colder than most since it is an Alpine Lake.

Whether boating, jet skiing, kayaking, rafting, paddle boarding or swimming, it’s a good idea to inform yourself about the colder temperatures of Lake Tahoe and how it can affect you, visit www.waterdata.usfs.gov. It’s also a good idea to check the wind conditions and red flag warning status. You can find this information at www.weather.gov.

Currently the water temperature is approximately 55 degrees. As the winter run off continues to melt and makes its way to the lake, the water temperatures will fluctuate August through September. Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the United States, because of this the temperatures remain lower year-round than most lakes in our region.

We respond to numerous water emergencies on the lake not just during the summer months but throughout the year. Please consider the following safety precautions before recreating on Lake Tahoe:

BOAT SAFE: PREPARE FOR COLD WATER AT LAKE TAHOE
Wear a life jacket
Carry a whistle or horn
Dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature
Check the weather forecast for wind conditions
Never go on the water alone
Don’t drink alcohol while recreating on the lake
File a float plan – leave it with a friend or family member

SWIM SAFE: PREPARE FOR COLD WATER AT LAKE TAHOE
Wear a life jacket and know your swimming limitations
Enter the water slowly
Feet first, first time
Swim with a buddy
Respect the dangers of cold water
Check the weather for wind conditions www.weather.gov

Swim smart and safe, know the dangers of cold water. Educate yourself and wear a life jacket anytime you’re in the water, it can save your life.

PINE NUTS : How to Take Out Your Own Stitches or Not
To begin, I sometimes speak-up when a little voice deep down inside is shouting, “Don’t do it!” That happened at the VA last month when they were telling me when to return to have my stitches out. I told them I had a semester of pre-med and could take out my own stitches. I heard a janitor in the back of the room laugh, but a capable nurse handed me a bundle of tools, placed her caring hand on my shoulder, and sent me home.

Well, I went right to work making preparations. I bought a new pair of eyeglasses, arranged for the very best lighting, found a magnifying glass that might be helpful, and laid out the tools of my new trade.

Now, they did not teach me, in my one semester of pre-med, how to remove sutures, but that omission did not deter me from volunteering to tackle the procedure myself. I mean, how hard could it be? It must be exactly like untying your shoes. In fact, I practiced untying my shoes with my surgical tools. But I shall pause just here, as I will embark upon my maiden voyage tomorrow, and shall have actual experience to draw upon…

Day One: Dang, these knots are sooo dang small! And you have to get under them to cut them loose. Once upon a time I had good enough hand-eye coordination to milk a cow, even if she did look around at me, as if to ask, “What are you doing back there?” But removing my own stitches might be too many for me.

What I might need is a plan B…I have a daughter-in-law who is a gifted nurse, but she is in Italy. I can’t go back to the VA, because I can’t face that janitor who laughed out loud when I said I could take out my own stitches. So what happens if I leave the stitches in? Will they eventually dissolve, or do I get to look like I have a zipper on my forehead the rest of my natural life?

Maybe my college counselor was right when she advised me to change my major from pre-med to auctioneer or carny-barker. Well, I’m not giving up quite yet. I have successfully removed five stitches and have fifteen to go. Let’s see what tomorrow holds, because right now I need a straight shot of Old Sam Spiced Gin - Hand Crafted in Goldfield, Nevada for just such an occasion…

Day Two: I wish my mother were still alive. I did successfully remove ten stitches. The remaining ten look like a parade of ants out for a nature hike on a picnic table, but my mother would still love me. Well, so much for my venture in medicine. I shall close here with renewed respect and appreciation for the capable doctors and nurses at our amazing VA…thank you!

Dr. McAvoy Layne, Retired

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