Officials give water safety advice during busy holiday weekend at the Lake of the Ozarks
COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ)
Many officials referred to Memorial Day weekend as the 'kick off for summer' and said although people are eager to get back out after the pandemic, it is important to stay safe while doing so.
Nick Chabarra with AAA said an estimate of 37 million people will be traveling this weekend and many of them in Missouri may be headed to the Lake of the Ozarks.
The 1,100 miles of shoreline has highly developed private residences, public facilities, restaurants and marinas.
With many people out on the water this weekend, Cpl. Kyle Green with the Missouri State Highway Patrol said related boating to driving a vehicle.
"Instead of wearing a seatbelt. It's a good idea to wear your life jacket. You know you're a great swimmer, but if something were to happen where you were to get thrown out of the boat and you were knocked unconscious, your ability to swim is pretty irrelevant at that point," Green said.
Doug Beck with the Lake of the Ozarks Water Safety Council said nearly 650 people die each year during recreational boating activities and of those deaths 79% are due to drowning and 86% are not wearing a life jacket.
With the CDC reporting 10 people dying everyday from unintentional drowning, Gale Blomenkamp with the Boone County Fire Protection District wants to remind kids to learn water rules and parents to not get distracted.
"Telephones, those things are so distracted nowadays and kids can disappear in a minute and be outside your vision. Sobriety is a big thing during the memorial weekend and just like the Fourth of July, alcohol and being on the water just doesn't mix very well," Blomenkamp said.
Beck said it is important to designate a sober driver while out on the water is important. He also encourages boater education courses through the highway patrol water devision. Beck also said those who cannot designate a sober driver are encouraged to hire a captain for your trip.
"Seventy percent of deaths occur on boats where the operator has had no boater safety instructions or lessons and the leading factor for deaths at 23% is alcohol," Beck said.
Beck said on an average year at the lake there are about 5 million visitors, but this years projections show there may be a record high of close to 12 million.
Check back for more on this developing story or watch ABC 17 News at 9 and 10 p.m.
