Clackamas County Named Most Dangerous for Beachgoers by Connecticut Law Firm, Despite Being Landlocked

Connecticut Law Firm Names Landlocked Oregon County Most Dangerous for Beachgoers

Clackamas County Named Most Dangerous for Beachgoers by Connecticut Firm, Despite Being Landlocked

According to Oregon Live, a surprising discovery was made by a personal injury law firm from Connecticut. They have named Clackamas County in Oregon as the most dangerous place for beachgoers in the U.S. This is strange because Clackamas County is about 100 miles away from the Pacific Ocean and is landlocked.

READ ALSO: California’s Most Violent Counties: San Joaquin Tops the List with 72.09 Violent Crimes per 1,000 Residents

(PHOTO: Clackamas County)

Water Rescue Data Analysis Leads to Unexpected Conclusion

The law firm reached this conclusion by analyzing water rescue data reported to the United States Lifesaving Association. Although Clackamas County does not have beaches it does have fast-moving rivers. The rescues in this county were all related to incidents in swift water.

Clackamas County Tops the List with Highest Rescue Ratio

The firm looked at data from the past ten years and found that Clackamas County had 177.7 rescues per 100,000 “beachgoers.” This is the highest ratio in the country and is 34% higher than the next most dangerous county. The analysis did not include counties with fewer than 100,000 reported attendees.

Ventura County, California, Ranks Second in Dangerous Beachgoer List

Ventura County in California was ranked second in the list. Ventura County had 7,760 rescues reported since 2013 and almost 6 million visitors during the same period. However, the data for Clackamas County was based solely on reports from American Medical Response which is an ambulance service provider.

Rescue and Drowning Data from American Medical Response

Since 2013 American Medical Response has reported 1,049 rescues and five drownings in Clackamas County. In 2023 alone there were 77 rescues and no drowning deaths. However, there have been more drownings than this data suggests. From 2006 to 2017, 16 drownings were recorded along the Clackamas River.

Spring Break Reminder: Oregon Waterways Can Be Dangerous

It’s crucial to keep in mind that Oregon’s rivers can be quite dangerous as spring break draws near. Oregon had the 13th highest drowning fatality rate in the US from 2011 to 2020 with 1.59 drowning deaths per 100,000 Americans. Even when the air temperature is rising and Oregon’s rivers are flowing quickly the water temperature stays frigid. It’s always advisable to wear a life jacket when floating on a river.

Life Jacket Loaner Stations Provided by Oregon Marine Board

The Oregon Marine Board maintains a statewide map of life jacket loaner stations which can be very helpful for those planning to spend time near the water. It is always a good idea to wear a life jacket as it can save lives in case of an emergency.