Coronavirus pandemic leaves popular Portland-area swimming spots without lifeguards this summer

Warm weather in Oregon

Popular swimming holes near Portland, like High Rocks on the Clackamas River, won't be staffed with lifeguards this summer.Dave Killen/The Oregonian

At least two of the most popular swimming holes around the Portland area will be without lifeguards this summer because of the coronavirus pandemic, officials said Thursday.

Neither the High Rocks Park in Gladstone nor Glenn Otto Community Park in Troutdale, on the Clackamas and Sandy rivers, respectively, will have lifeguards on standby as the weather heats up and swimmers flock to the water, according to a joint press release from American Medical Response, which provides the lifeguards, and the cities.

“Currently there are no facilities open to conduct mandatory swim testing and training, nor is there a means of protecting our emergency medical providers/rescuers from COVID-19 exposure while they conduct contact rescues and resuscitation on swimmers in distress,” the statement said.

The Gladstone Fire Department told KATU News that the city responds to calls at High Rocks frequently and the swimming hole typically sees at least one drowning per year. The loss of lifeguards from AMR will likely result in slower response times, Capt. Kirk Stempel said.

“With AMR down there, it was great, because they had eyes on the river at all times,” he told KATU. “But us, we are a couple of minutes away, have to get suited up and performing a rescue, so there is a slight delay. With AMR there, it was instant. They were in the water.”

Officials said there would be life jackets at both places available for use on the honor system. Officials recommend people use life jackets or flotation devices when they are near or in the water, especially for children. They also warned against cold shock, which can be particularly dangerous in the spring when rivers are still running cold with recent snowmelt.

-- Kale Williams; kwilliams@oregonian.com; 503-294-4048; @sfkale

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.