WISCONSIN (NBC 26) — We’re just days away from Memorial Day Weekend, considered by many to be the unofficial start to summer.
As we look ahead to warmer weather and sunnier days, it’s important to use safe boating practices when heading out on the water.
This week also kicks off National Safe Boating Week.
This observance week is the annual kick-off of the Safe Boating Campaign, a global awareness effort that encourages boaters to make the most of their boating adventure by being responsible. It’s also a great opportunity to remind all boaters to brush up on boating safety skills and prepare for the boating season.
In Wisconsin as of April 1st, a new law on the boat engine cut-off switch went into effect that applies on federal waters such as Green Bay, Lake Michigan, the Winnebago System, and the Fox River.
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Another reminder: boating safety advocates recommend that all boaters and passengers not only have a life jacket but wear it at all times while boating. They say accidents on the water happen too fast to reach and put on a stowed life jacket.
"We've already had several in the state, boating fatalities and we haven't had the unofficial kick off boating season yet," said Darren Kuhn, Department of Natural Resources Boating Law Administrator.
Kuhn said while you've probably heard this multiple times, he said he still can't stress enough of how important it is to wear a life jacket and one that's your proper size too.
The following figures are from the U.S. Coast Guard’s 2019 Recreational Boating Statistics, the latest records of reported boating accidents in the United States.
See below:
"Most of the times these incidents happen very quickly and the stress of a boating incident even a minor one, a lot of times people aren't going to think about their life jackets and then we have a tragedy waiting to happen," Kuhn said.
Wondering what water levels on the Lake Winnebago System is looking like? Watch below as Chadwick Shaw with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers explains:
As for the coast, Kuhn said to continue to be aware and use your best judgment.
"There's a lot of places out there this year that last year they could go with no problem but now that the water is subsiding a little bit people are going to want to be really aware of that especially in southern Green Bay or sturgeon bay. Still hard to see but at this point if you're not aware of where you're going can pose some underwater hazards," Kuhn said.
He also said to make sure your registration is up to date, have a fire extinguisher and working signals and lights before you launch your boat.
To read more on statistics for reported boating accidents, see below:
