News Release
| Release Number: | 08-103 |
| Dated: | 7/2/2008 |
| Contact: | Erica Gann, 503-808-4510 |
PORTLAND, Ore. – As the nation’s largest federal provider of water-based recreation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stresses water safety and urges extra caution while in or around water during the upcoming Independence Day holiday.
Many people include water-based recreation as part of their Fourth of July celebration.
“This year, as people head out for the holiday weekend, they should anticipate that lakes and rivers will be full and high,” said Dwane Watsek, Portland District Operations Chief. “Public safety is our primary concern and it’s important to us that all boaters and recreational users use utmost caution while on our lakes and Corps-managed rivers.”
Combining water-based recreation with alcohol consumption can lead to especially tragic results. “Our mission is to provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and get folks home safely,” continued Watsek. “Wearing a life jacket and avoiding alcohol when around the water significantly reduces the risks for you or someone you care about.”
The Corps urges the public to practice the following water safety tips to ensure a safer recreation experience over the holiday and throughout the year.
Wear your life jacket: Each year about 6,000 people drown in the United States. This is the second leading cause of accidental deaths for persons 15 to 44 years of age. The majority of these tragedies could have been prevented by simply wearing a life jacket. Please do your friends and loved ones a favor -- wear your lifejacket.
Learn to swim and don’t overestimate your skill: Once you know how to swim, ensure that you always swim with a buddy. Don’t rely on inner tubes or water toys to keep you afloat. Know your limits. Each year many people drown by overestimating their swimming skills and swimming beyond their limits.
Beware of cold water temperatures: Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. This can happen in any season, especially in the Pacific Northwest, where water temperatures remain low all year.
Don’t drink and boat: About half of adolescent and adult deaths associated with water recreation involve alcohol use. This is about one in five reported boating fatalities. Just one beer can impair your balance, vision, judgment and reaction time, thus making you a potential danger to yourself and others. Don’t include alcohol in your outing if you are planning to have fun in, on, or near the water.
For more information on these and other water safety tips please visit the Corps’ water safety Web site at http://watersafety.usace.army.mil/safetytips.htm.