Summer safety in state parks
Summertime in Mid-Missouri has people hitting the trails, including Rock Bridge State Park in Boone County.
But with severe storms that can move in quickly, checking the weather report is key to a safe visit. In the same day, a woman became trapped by a rising creek and two men got lost in a cave, both at Rock Bridge State Park.
Boone County Fire officials say the most important thing the nearly 20 million people who visit Missouri State Parks is to check weather, be aware of their surroundings, and be prepared with water and some snacks.
Officials say just a few inches of moving water is enough to knock a person down. According to the National Parks Service, from 2007 to 2013, 365 people died in a National Park from drowning. On average, 140 people die each year in a National Park.
Boone County Fire Battalion Chief Chuck Leake says attempting to cross quick moving water should be left to experts.
“A person that is not trained going into that water will end up further down stream. And in most cases, unless they’re lucky, we end up doing a recovery instead of a rescue.”
Fire officials also recommend having a cell phone on you and telling someone where you are going. The woman who was rescued this week was able to give rescuers her approximate location before her cell phone died.
