DNR offers boating safety tips going into Memorial Day weekend

With Memorial Day weekend here, Indiana Conservation Officers remind Hoosiers to make water safety a priority now and throughout the summer.

“With the kickoff to summer upon us, all Hoosiers are urged to recognize the danger water poses and make water safety the utmost priority,” said Capt. Jet Quillen of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Law Enforcement.

Follow these basic safety tips:

Discuss the dangers of water with your family and loved ones before going out.

Tell someone where you are going and when you will return.

Go with a buddy.

Do not venture around flooded or fast-moving waterways.

Wear a life jacket.

Keep an extra watchful eye on children.

Avoid alcohol.

If you go boating, make sure you know the rules and boat safely. Reduce speed in unfamiliar areas and be aware of unusual water conditions respective to your size and type of boat. These are not only safety tips, but also important environmental considerations, as they can help prevent beach erosion. Regardless of your boat type, assess water levels before going out and monitor your speed while underway.

Designate a sober boat operator. Alcohol causes impaired balance, blurred vision, poor coordination, impaired judgment, and slower reaction time. Wave action, sun exposure, and wind can magnify these effects. It is illegal to operate a motorboat or personal watercraft in Indiana while intoxicated due to alcohol or drugs. Indiana law defines intoxication as having a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or greater.

Each life jacket should be United States Coast Guard approved, in good working condition, and size appropriate for the wearer. New life jackets are designed to be lighter, less obtrusive, and more comfortable than those of the past. Inflatable life jackets allow mobility and flexibility for activities like boating, fishing or paddling, and can be much cooler in warmer weather than older-style life jackets.

To learn more about boating education and safety, see on.IN.gov/boatered.