As warmer weather will soon draw crowds to the lakes, rivers and streams across the region, first responders in the east Multnomah County area are gearing up to keep you safe.

On Friday, Corbett Fire District is joining several other agencies to promote water safety along the Sandy River. The event will be at Dabney Park and is hosted by Oregon State Parks.

“Every year, we respond to emergencies that could have been prevented with basic safety steps,” said Fire Chief Rick Wunsch of the Corbett Fire District. “By working together with our partner agencies, we hope to educate the public and provide the tools needed to enjoy the Sandy River safely. One life saved makes every effort worth it.”

At Friday's water safety press conference, Gresham Fire Department will show off its jet ski watercraft, which lets crews quickly help people who might need rescuing on the river.

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office dive team responds to emergencies on both the Sandy and Columbia Rivers. Their team will also attend on Friday, offering details about how they work along local waterways.

Earlier this week, Corbett Fire and American Medical Response donated over 100 lifejackets of all sizes for people to borrow when they visit Lewis & Clark Park, Glenn Otto Park and Dabney Park. Officials said each of those locations will have signs in multiple languages explaining how to borrow and return the lifejackets.