With warmer weather and more people getting outdoors to enjoy lakes and streams in the region and across the state, officials with Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is reminding everyone to be safe on the water.
Officials say conservation officers investigate boating accidents and fatalities on all waterways and reservoirs throughout Kentucky. The officers often work alongside local partners in search and recovery efforts.
As of Friday afternoon, officials report twelve males, ranging in age from 17 to 52-years old, have drowned in Kentucky’s waterways since the start of the Memorial Day holiday weekend. They add the majority of those drownings were under the age of 30.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife officials are urging everyone to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved lifejacket while boating. Children younger than 12 must wear a lifejacket while in the open portion of a boat that is underway. If you are concerned about comfort, officials say inflatable lifejackets are a viable option.
The American Red Cross also recommends other precautions which include don’t swim by yourself, supervise children and keep them within arm’s reach around water and avoid distractions, and in a group situation, designate a water watcher whose sole responsibility is to oversee activity in the water.
Officials say it is also important that swimming anywhere near a lock and dam can be dangerous because of unpredictable water levels and dangerous currents. They remind boaters lifejackets must be worn when in hazardous areas near dams.
