Public health managers and law enforcement are warning that the danger from accidental drowning this year is higher than it’s been in a long time.

At Thursday’s annual Water Safety news conference, Supervising Public Health Nurse Russ Hasting said 16 children died between 2014 and 2016, and half were near pools where safety features were not being used.

Search and rescue deputies say the Kern River is so cold and fast that they would not be able to pull you out of the water, and a life vest may not be enough to save you.

Suzanne Grant