'Senseless' death a powerful reminder
Water safety too often ignored, officials say
By Dolly A. Butz, Journal staff writer | Posted: Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Carol Wibben holds a picture of her father, Ron Christensen, at her home in Wayne, Neb. Christensen drowned while boating on the Missouri River. (Photo by Dolly A. Butz)
SIOUX CITY -- You don't mess with the Missouri River.
A fact Ron Christensen knew and taught his family during his life. A lesson he learned in death.
Christensen, an experienced swimmer, was 56 when he drowned on the Missouri River near the mouth of the Vermillion River. Christensen's life jacket was in his boat, not on his body.
Carol Wibben, Christensen's daughter, wants to warn others of the water's potential dangers by telling her father's story.
"It just seems so senseless," said Wibben, of Wayne, Neb. "You're out swimming and you don't think my day's going to be over today. Nobody does."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2005 there were 3,582 fatal unintentional drownings in the United States, averaging 10 deaths per day. An additional 710 people died, from drowning and other causes, in boating-related incidents.
Wearing a life jacket is one safety measure boaters often take for granted, according to Susan Stocker, boating education coordinator for the Iowa DNR.
"No one has any idea that they may find themselves in the water unexpectedly," she said. "If that occurs they're not going to have the time to locate a life jacket and put it on fast enough to save their life."
On May 10, Iowa Gov. Chet Culver signed into law legislation that requires any child who is under the age of 13 to wear a life jacket anytime they are on a boat that is not anchored or tied to the dock or ground. A child is exempt from wearing a life jacket if they are in an enclosed cabin, below deck or aboard a commercial vessel with a capacity of 25 people or more.
Stocker said even the most experienced swimmer should wear a life jacket while boating.
"The current, the waves, if you get thrown out in the middle of the lake or the middle of the river, you don't have anywhere to go," she said.
Final day on the river
Wibben said her father lived in a trailer along the Missouri River. He spent as much time on the water as he could, fishing, boating and mushroom hunting with his two dogs, Duke and Panther.
"He was actually doing that, that day," she said. "That's why they weren't sure where he was."
On the chilly morning of April 15, 2005, Christensen dressed in his coveralls before he went out in his boat with his dogs.
Around 11 a.m. Wibben said her brother spoke with her father on his cell phone. The two had planned to get together for lunch. Later that afternoon, Wibben said her brother called her father's cell phone again. Christensen didn't answer.
Family members became worried. Around 4 p.m. they went to the river to look for him. A few hours later they notified authorities that he was missing.
"By that time it was getting late, and it was dark," Wibben said. "There wasn't really a lot that they could do at that point."
Wibben's brother and a friend took a boat onto the water to look for Christensen. He found Christensen's boat capsized and one of his dogs alive. There was no sign of Christensen.
"One of our family members went down there every single day," Wibben said. "Even if it was just for an hour. You felt like you just had to be down there. Somebody needed to keep looking."
On June 21, 2005, a neighbor found Christensen's body. His cell phone and notebook were still in his pockets.
Authorities believe his body remained underwater for more than two months due to cold water temperatures and the presence of underwater entrapments. It is unknown how Christensen drowned.
"He always just said that the Missouri River, you don't mess with it," Wibben said. "It doesn't matter if you can swim really, really good. Anyone can drown out there. I guess he just never thought that would happen to him."
Nearly three years after Christensen's death, Wibben remembers happier times on the Missouri River. A painting hanging in her living room by artist Carlos Frey depicts a younger Christensen wadding in the water with outstretched arms, as a 5-year-old Wibben prepares to jump.
"I remember swimming out there as a kid and always feeling kind of scared," she said. "I always felt reassured because he always said it's OK. Trust me."
Boating safety tips
-- Wear a life jacket.
-- Equip your boat with the necessary safety equipment.
-- Be aware of floating debris. Hitting debris could eject an occupant from the boat.
-- Be sure to have a fire extinguisher on board.
-- If your boat is 16 feet or longer, have a type IV throwable flotation device.
-- File a float plan with friends or family.
-- If you are operating the boat, do not consume alcohol.
Iowa DNR
Water safety tips
-- Learn to swim.
-- Swim in areas supervised by a lifeguard.
-- Read and obey all rules and posted signs.
-- Children or inexperienced swimmers should take precautions, such as wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal floatation device when around the water.
-- Be knowledgeable to the water environment you are in and its potential hazards such as deep and shallow areas, currents, depth changes, obstructions and where the entry and exit points are located.
-- Pay attention to local weather conditions and forecasts. Stop swimming at the first indication of bad weather.
-- Enter headfirst only when the area is clearly marked for diving and has no obstructions.
American Red Cross
How to protect yourself from water illnesses
-- Look at the pool and surroundings.
-- You should be able to clearly see any painted stripes and the bottom of the pool.
-- Tiles should not be sticky or slippery.
-- A well-chlorinated pool has little odor. A strong chemical smell indicates a maintenance problem.
-- You should hear pool pumps and filtration systems running.
-- Ask questions of the pool staff.
-- Are chlorine and pH levels checked at least twice per day?
-- Are these levels checked during times when the pool is most heavily used?
-- What was the health inspector's grade for the pool after its last inspection?
-- Practice healthy swimming behaviors.
-- Refrain from swimming when you have diarrhea.
-- Avoid swallowing pool water or even getting it in your mouth.
-- Shower before swimming and wash you hands after using the bathroom or changing diapers.
-- Change diapers in a bathroom and not poolside.
CDC
A fact Ron Christensen knew and taught his family during his life. A lesson he learned in death.
Christensen, an experienced swimmer, was 56 when he drowned on the Missouri River near the mouth of the Vermillion River. Christensen's life jacket was in his boat, not on his body.
Carol Wibben, Christensen's daughter, wants to warn others of the water's potential dangers by telling her father's story.
"It just seems so senseless," said Wibben, of Wayne, Neb. "You're out swimming and you don't think my day's going to be over today. Nobody does."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2005 there were 3,582 fatal unintentional drownings in the United States, averaging 10 deaths per day. An additional 710 people died, from drowning and other causes, in boating-related incidents.
Wearing a life jacket is one safety measure boaters often take for granted, according to Susan Stocker, boating education coordinator for the Iowa DNR.
"No one has any idea that they may find themselves in the water unexpectedly," she said. "If that occurs they're not going to have the time to locate a life jacket and put it on fast enough to save their life."
On May 10, Iowa Gov. Chet Culver signed into law legislation that requires any child who is under the age of 13 to wear a life jacket anytime they are on a boat that is not anchored or tied to the dock or ground. A child is exempt from wearing a life jacket if they are in an enclosed cabin, below deck or aboard a commercial vessel with a capacity of 25 people or more.
Stocker said even the most experienced swimmer should wear a life jacket while boating.
"The current, the waves, if you get thrown out in the middle of the lake or the middle of the river, you don't have anywhere to go," she said.
Final day on the river
Wibben said her father lived in a trailer along the Missouri River. He spent as much time on the water as he could, fishing, boating and mushroom hunting with his two dogs, Duke and Panther.
"He was actually doing that, that day," she said. "That's why they weren't sure where he was."
On the chilly morning of April 15, 2005, Christensen dressed in his coveralls before he went out in his boat with his dogs.
Around 11 a.m. Wibben said her brother spoke with her father on his cell phone. The two had planned to get together for lunch. Later that afternoon, Wibben said her brother called her father's cell phone again. Christensen didn't answer.
Family members became worried. Around 4 p.m. they went to the river to look for him. A few hours later they notified authorities that he was missing.
"By that time it was getting late, and it was dark," Wibben said. "There wasn't really a lot that they could do at that point."
Wibben's brother and a friend took a boat onto the water to look for Christensen. He found Christensen's boat capsized and one of his dogs alive. There was no sign of Christensen.
"One of our family members went down there every single day," Wibben said. "Even if it was just for an hour. You felt like you just had to be down there. Somebody needed to keep looking."
On June 21, 2005, a neighbor found Christensen's body. His cell phone and notebook were still in his pockets.
Authorities believe his body remained underwater for more than two months due to cold water temperatures and the presence of underwater entrapments. It is unknown how Christensen drowned.
"He always just said that the Missouri River, you don't mess with it," Wibben said. "It doesn't matter if you can swim really, really good. Anyone can drown out there. I guess he just never thought that would happen to him."
Nearly three years after Christensen's death, Wibben remembers happier times on the Missouri River. A painting hanging in her living room by artist Carlos Frey depicts a younger Christensen wadding in the water with outstretched arms, as a 5-year-old Wibben prepares to jump.
"I remember swimming out there as a kid and always feeling kind of scared," she said. "I always felt reassured because he always said it's OK. Trust me."
Boating safety tips
-- Wear a life jacket.
-- Equip your boat with the necessary safety equipment.
-- Be aware of floating debris. Hitting debris could eject an occupant from the boat.
-- Be sure to have a fire extinguisher on board.
-- If your boat is 16 feet or longer, have a type IV throwable flotation device.
-- File a float plan with friends or family.
-- If you are operating the boat, do not consume alcohol.
Iowa DNR
Water safety tips
-- Learn to swim.
-- Swim in areas supervised by a lifeguard.
-- Read and obey all rules and posted signs.
-- Children or inexperienced swimmers should take precautions, such as wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal floatation device when around the water.
-- Be knowledgeable to the water environment you are in and its potential hazards such as deep and shallow areas, currents, depth changes, obstructions and where the entry and exit points are located.
-- Pay attention to local weather conditions and forecasts. Stop swimming at the first indication of bad weather.
-- Enter headfirst only when the area is clearly marked for diving and has no obstructions.
American Red Cross
How to protect yourself from water illnesses
-- Look at the pool and surroundings.
-- You should be able to clearly see any painted stripes and the bottom of the pool.
-- Tiles should not be sticky or slippery.
-- A well-chlorinated pool has little odor. A strong chemical smell indicates a maintenance problem.
-- You should hear pool pumps and filtration systems running.
-- Ask questions of the pool staff.
-- Are chlorine and pH levels checked at least twice per day?
-- Are these levels checked during times when the pool is most heavily used?
-- What was the health inspector's grade for the pool after its last inspection?
-- Practice healthy swimming behaviors.
-- Refrain from swimming when you have diarrhea.
-- Avoid swallowing pool water or even getting it in your mouth.
-- Shower before swimming and wash you hands after using the bathroom or changing diapers.
-- Change diapers in a bathroom and not poolside.
CDC
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