FORT WORTH, Texas — It’s almost time to say goodbye to summer. Fall is just around the corner. Some of you might be planning on spending the upcoming weekends on or around the water, so the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District would like for you to remember these safety tips while enjoying your visit.
Before heading out to a lake or river, be sure you have a life jacket for everyone. Check that the life jackets are U.S. Coast Guard approved, are the right size and fit, and are appropriate for the activity you have planned. Then please make sure everyone wears a life jacket. On average, 9 out of 10 people who drowned at a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake or river project weren't wearing a life jacket. Life jackets save lives by keeping you afloat and allows time for rescue.
If you plan to swim at a lake, please do so at a designated swim beach that is marked with a buoy line. Designate a water watcher because supervision could save a life. Adults, plan to take turns being a “water watcher” and keep an eye on children when they are swimming. A child can drown in 20 seconds so stay within arm’s reach while supervising them.
Know your swimming ability. Each year, swimmers get into trouble swimming after a toy, a boat or some other object that drifts away. It’s not worth dying for to swim after an object. Let it go or put on a properly fitted life jacket and then retrieve the item.
Summer is coming to an end, but you don’t have to let the fun end. Please wear a life jacket to help ensure you return home alive and encourage your buddy to wear one too. Life Jackets Worn…Nobody Mourns. Learn more at PleaseWearIt.com.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is one of the nation’s leading federal providers of outdoor recreation, managing more than 400 lake and river projects in 43 states and hosting more than 250 million visits per year. With 90 percent of these recreation areas within 50 miles of metropolitan areas they provide a diverse range of outdoor activities close to home and to people of all ages. For more information on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District recreation sites and activities, visit http://www.swf.usace.army.mil/About/Lakes-and-Recreation-Information/
-30-
About the Fort Worth District: The Fort Worth District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was established in 1950. The District is responsible for water resources development in two-thirds of Texas, and design and construction at military installations in Texas and parts of Louisiana and New Mexico. Visit the Fort Worth District Web site at: www.swf.usace.army.mil and SWF Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/usacefortworth