What You Need To Keep Yourself Safe on the Water this Summer
Kaelyn Blessinger
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – As we dive deeper into the summer, it is important to remember how to stay safe on the water. According to the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, five people have needed to be rescued from the water since the start of May.
“There’s obstacles under the water,” Sergeant Bryan Lovell said. “There’s debris and things floating from the river that are hazards that people run into that can cause damage to your boat or vessel. It can flip you over. And there’s lots of things there that people need to watch out for all the time.”
When a boat flips and someone’s in danger, something as simple as a life jacket could make the difference between a rescue or death.
Hypothermia can also be a risk due to cold water, even with how warm the air may feel.
“The temperature of the water is cold year round,” Lovell said. “But this particular time of year it’s probably at its coldest. When people get into the water, the their ability to self rescue is down to just seconds.”
To learn more about boating safety near you, here are some resource links:
Bonneville County Sheriff’s Boating Safety Resource Link
Idaho Parks and Recreation’s Boating Safety Resource Link