Lake & Boating Safety

7/1/2021 (Permalink)

Boat on Grand Lake near Langley, Oklahoma

As a locally owned SERVPRO® Franchise, SERVPRO® of Mayes and Wagoner Counties is the leading storm damage restoration company serving the Coweta, Wagoner, Porter, Broken Arrow, Pryor, Chouteau, Locust Grove, Adair, Langley, Salina, Disney, Spavinaw, Okay, East Tulsa and Grand Lake areas with continuous coverage 24-hours a day, seven days a week. When severe weather damages a home or business, SERVPRO® technicians are ready to respond to any disaster and make it “Like it never even happened."

Summer is synonymous with barbecues, swimming, and fireworks. Today we will cover Lake and Water safety.

Oklahoma is home to over 200 lakes and over 1 million surface acres, perfect for boating, swimming, fishing and all kinds of water recreation. In our area we have five lakes, Grand Lake, Hudson Lake, Fort Gibson Lake, Spavinaw Lake and Lake Eucha.

And if you’ve been in Oklahoma for any amount of time, you know that this time of the year is lake time. But with that fun time in the water comes some safety tips that everyone should review.

When Swimming

• Never swim alone.
• Always wear a Coast Guard approved life vest. The USCG estimates that 76% of fatal accidents were the result of not wearing a life vest.
• Make sure your life vest fits you properly.
• Swim in designated areas.
• Always supervise children.
• Avoid using alcohol and drugs that can impair your motor skills.
• Understand the lake currents where you’re at.
• Know the weather conditions.
• Do not dive into the water. Jumping from cliffs or bridges is dangerous due to shallow water, submerged rocks, trees, or other hazards.
• Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Because of the time it might take for emergency services to arrive, your CPR skills can make a difference in saving someone's life.
• Know the local weather conditions and forecast before swimming or boating. Strong winds and thunderstorms with lightning strikes are dangerous to swimmers and boaters.
• Do not use air-filled or foam toys, such as water wings, noodles, or inner tubes, in place of life jackets. These are toys and are not designed to keep swimmers safe.

When Boating

• Know the lake. Find a map of the lake you will be on and look out for dangerous spots, such as underwater structures, low water areas, areas prone to debris.
• Understand signage and flags around the lake and docks.
• Know the rules. Know the boating regulations for the area and state you are in.
• Have your boat checked by a professional. It is good to have your boat checked over by a professional at least once per boating season.
• Do a check of your boat before every time you go out. Check your motors, check the exterior of the boat.  Doing a general check each time will help eliminate problems once out on the water.
• Use common sense. One of the most important parts of boating safety is to use your common sense.
• Always operate your vessel at a safe speed,
• Always stay alert not only of what is going on inside your boat but what is happening outside of it, this includes other watercraft, people, objects, etc.
• Be aware of buoys and other navigational aids, all of which have been placed there to ensure your own safety.

Other Helpful Tips

• Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water and fluids while out on the lake to avoid heat stroke. Your body can dehydrate faster than you realize.
• Pack sunscreen. Apply sunscreen often throughout the day to avoid serious sunburn.
• Be aware of Carbon Monoxide poisoning while boating, especially if you are with a group of boats close together.
• Keep your phone, keys, and wallet in a sealed plastic bag to keep them water safe.

For more water safety information, visit www.redcross.org 

For a lake near you, visit, www.travelok.com

SERVPRO® of Mayes and Wagoner Counties specializes in Fire and Water Cleanup and Restoration.

If you have any questions, call SERVPRO® of Mayes and Wagoner Counites, 918-486-1055 or email us at office@SERVPRO10980.com .

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