The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries anticipates a large number of boaters on state waterways this Memorial Day Weekend as more individuals are staying closer to home due to gas prices. Lt. Tim Fox said in light of recent boating and water fatalities he said always have a sober operator when on the water.
“We never want to mix alcohol with water, it creates a bad environment. Where bad decisions can be made, and the outcome is never usually good. So, making sure you have a sober operator is priority number one,” said Fox.
Fox said to always have properly fitting lifejackets for everyone on the boat and to make sure they are in working condition. He said even if you are a great swimmer, it’s best to be wearing one in case things go awry.
“Just in case something happens. Even if you’re the best swimmer in the world, if something were to happen to you on the way out of the boat, it still can hold you up until you can self-rescue or someone else can get to you,” said Fox.
Fox said over the years they’ve seen several accidents that could have been prevented with proper training. He recommends taking a boating course to learn the best way to avoid potentially dangerous situations.
“By taking our NASBLA-approved boater safety education course. We offer it online and in person. It’s going to teach our boaters those best practices to make sure they are making good decisions,” said Fox.
For a link to the free boating, course visit click here.
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