Boating safety urged for Fourth

GLADEWATER — For America’s 250th birthday, East Texans are coming together for Independence Day festivities like no other. With fireworks popping across the night sky and boats launched on lakes, residents are finding any way they can to enjoy the holiday weekend.

Texas Game Wardens, however, ask that you spend the Fourth of July safely, following all laws while out on the lake, according to our new partner, KETK. “I want to stress: slow down. Just slow down. We’re going to have an added crowd out here,” Texas Game Warden Todd Long said. “The fireworks show tends to bring in lots of other boats, canoers, kayakers, people of different levels of experience.”

“First and foremost, lifejackets,” Long said. “Wear those lifejackets, especially the kiddos under 13. It’s state law. They have to have it on. Have a life jacket on or have it accessible, have it on board. Along with lifejackets, boats must have a fire extinguisher, throw cushion and a kill switch, which allows the operator to stop the motor in the case of an emergency.”

According to the Texas Game Warden, there have already been 43 total water fatalities this year, with 25 of them being boat-related. Ensuring that a boat is equipped with all the necessary safety gear is one step in preventing a tragedy.

“It’s got be the worst part of the job is looking for a young person on the bottom of the lake,” Long said. “If we can just save one tragic drowning. I talked to a lot of schools, a lot of scouting programs, a lot of civic groups. That’s where we stress: watch those kids. Supervise, supervise, supervise. Wear those lifejackets and take swimming lessons.”

Operational regulations are another way to stay safe. Long reminds boat operators that they must be sober by state law and to manage their speed when driving within 50 feet of another boat, pier, object, or person. Turning boat lights on at night and staying within boat capacity limits are other common rules people forget, Long said. “I encourage the public to slow down, have common courtesy and be familiar with their lake,” Long added.

If someone does happen to run into a problem this weekend, Long urges the public to call 911 or their local game warden:

“All the East Texas lakes will be patrolled by game wardens and other water safety officials. Notify one of us. Call 911, etc. If you see something, say something. Let’s all slow down, have fun, be courteous and get home safe this weekend.”

For more information on how to stay safe on a boat this summer, visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Quick Tips:
Always wear a life jacket,
Avoid alcohol,
Be especially careful on personal watercraft,
Children younger than age 13 must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFD while underway,
Enroll in a boater education class,
Don’t overload your boat,
Operate at a safe speed,
Always have a passenger serve as a lookout in addition to the operator,
Watch out for low water areas or submerged objects.