Memorial Day is the kick off weekend of the summer at Blue Marsh Lake and visitors are encouraged to have fun, stay safe, and make it home alive.
Blue Marsh Lake hosts over 900,000 visits annually where people enjoy fishing, boating, hiking and more. While outdoor recreation is fun and healthy, the project staff urges our visitors to plan for the unexpected and think about these three safety tips this Memorial Day.
Wear a life jacket.
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Statistics show that 90 percent of those who drown at USACE lakes and rivers may have survived if they had worn a life jacket.
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Drowning is the nation’s second leading cause of accidental death.
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Expect the unexpected. Accidents happen, even to responsible boaters. A life jacket can provide time for rescue.
Know your swimming ability.
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Swimming in open water is more difficult than in a swimming pool because a swimmer can tire more quickly and get into trouble.
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Conditions can change quickly in open water.
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Swim in designated areas and wear a life jacket. A life jacket will help conserve energy and provide flotation.
Be a “Water Watcher.”
- When on or near the water watch your children.
- A child can drown in 20 seconds
- Drowning happens quickly and quietly. A drowning victim’s head will be back, they will be gasping for air, they will not be yelling, and their arms will be slapping the water as though trying to climb out of the water.
To find a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project near you visit www.CorpsLakes.us.
Release no. 13-010