| |
|
Safe Boating Tips for Labor Day |
|
Lake safety
DOs and DON'Ts...
Although Labor Day weekend is upon us and
the bulk of the 2005 boating season is beginning to wind down on Grand and
Hudson lakes, the Grand River Dam Authority Lake Patrol continues to
remind boaters to boat smart, boat safe, boat sober and to always use
common sense on the water. "That is really the key," said GRDA Lake Patrol
Chief Bruce Smith. "We always stress common sense in the hopes that
everyone will have a safe and enjoyable weekend." |
 |
|
In
the water and in the air, the GRDA Lake Patrol will be patrolling the
waters of Grand and Hudson lakes this weekend, helping to ensure a safe
Labor Day holiday for lake visitors. |
|
Smith said the patrol is gearing up for the
holiday and will be out in full force on the waters of Grand and Hudson,
helping promote safety, providing boater assistance and enforcing the lake
rules and regulations. And as boaters prepare for the summer’s last big
boating holiday, the patrol offers these important boating safety DOs and
DON’T’s: |
 |
DO wear a life jacket. They float, you
don’t. By the way, estimates are that 85 percent of the people who died
as a result of boating accidents last summer would have survived … if
only they had taken the time to put on a life jacket before boating.
According to the latest United States Coast Guard statistics, there were
703 boating fatalities in 2003. Of that total, 576 were not wearing a
life jacket. Don’t be a statistic. |
|
|
DO know the water and environment you
will be boating on. |
|
|
DO keep a good lookout while underway.
Nearly 70 percent of all reported boating accidents involve operator
controllable factors. Some of those main controllable factors are
operator inattention and no proper lookout. |
|
|
DO shut off your engines when people are
in the water near your boat. |
|
|
DO observe the nautical “rules of the
road.” |
|
|
DO check the weather forecast before
getting underway. |
|
|
DO keep a balanced load and trim boat. |
|
|
DON’T overload your boat. |
|
|
DON’T ride on the gunwale, bow, seat
backs, or any place that is not designed for sitting. |
|
|
DON’T DRINK AND BOAT! According to the
United States Coast Guard, alcohol is involved in one third of all
boating fatalities. A boat operator with a blood-alcohol content above
.10 percent is ten times more likely to be killed in a boating accident
than boat operators with a zero blood-alcohol concentration. |
|
|
Finally, the GRDA Lake Patrol reminds all
boaters of these important tips to consider about life jackets: |
|
|
Oklahoma boating laws, along with GRDA
lake rules, require children age 12 and under to wear a life jacket at
all times on the water. |
|
|
All boats must have personal flotation
devices (pfd) for all persons on board. |
|
|
Buy your own personal life jacket and
wear it. |
|
|
Look at the life jacket label. It
provides weight, size and use information. |
|
|
Try it on to check the fit. When the
straps and buckles are secured, the jacket should not slip over your
head (one size does not fit all). |
|
|
Never use water toys in place of an
approved life jacket. |
|
|
Check your life jacket yearly for fit and
flotation. |
|
|
Wear a life jacket to set an example for
children, and to increase your chances of survival in an accident. |
|
|
If you have any questions regarding life
jackets, lake rules or other lake safety issues, please contact the GRDA
Lake Patrol at (918) 782-9594. The patrol is headquartered in Langley, at
the west end of Pensacola Dam. |
|
TOP OF PAGE |
| |
|
