Visitors to area lakes should keep an eye on the skies this weekend while enjoying the Memorial Day holiday, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The Corps of Engineers expects a crowd for the traditional kickoff of the summer season, as nearly every campsite is already taken at Lake Ouachita's recreation areas, said Brian Westfall, a natural resources specialist with the Lake Ouachita Project Management Office.
"We're going to have a full crowd this year," Westfall said in a telephone interview from Bass Pro Shop in Little Rock, where the Corps of Engineers is wrapping up a National Safe Boating Week education effort.
Thunderstorms are expected throughout the three-day holiday weekend, and lightning is a "huge danger" on the water, Westfall said.
If boaters see a dark cloud in the distance heading in their direction, they need to be cognizant of the danger and head back to their campsite, especially if there is lightning, he said.
In recreation areas, campers can take refuge in a comfort station or a shower house in case of severe weather, Westfall said.
"Memorial Day generally represents our biggest crowd of the year. We really try to put out as much safety information as we can," Westfall said.
"We have talked to thousands of school kids all over the Diamond Lakes area ... we've been in the schools about 35 years now, so we think that has really helped us have low drowning rates at the Diamond Lakes here in Arkansas. We believe in our school programs 100 percent."
The Corps of Engineers repeatedly stresses the importance of wearing a life jacket, with good reason: Westfall noted he has never pulled a drowning victim from the water who was wearing one.
"It's their best defense against drowning," he said. "They're just as important as seat belts (are) to our cars."
The Corps of Engineers in recent years has also stressed the importance of having a float plan and leaving it with a reliable adult. Float plans state where a person is going, how many people are going with them, and when they plan on returning.
"If they have a float plan and they haven't returned back to their party by the time that they said they would be back, we can go out and look for them using the information off that float plan," Westfall said.
"The lakes are so big, if you don't leave a float plan, and you get in trouble, it could be a while before we would be able to find you," he said.
Memorial Day is also the first day of the year that many boaters and swimmers get back on the water, so the Corps of Engineers recommends that swimmers stick to designated swimming areas "because it's a lot safer there."
"That's where we separate the boaters from the swimmers," he said.
Parents also need to keep a close watch on their children while they are in the water, Westfall said, noting it "only takes 20 seconds for a person who can't swim to drown.
"Parents have actually watched their children drown thinking they were playing in the water. So, it's extremely important, if you're designated to watch swimmers, to really actively watch them and be with them to avoid a situation," he said.
Westfall said one of the biggest problems with swimmers is that they tend to chase after lost items, whether it is a 99-cent beach ball or a boat, and get into serious trouble as a result.
He emphasizes the catchphrase "Let it go," meaning don't swim after it.
"That object is going to be blown out in front of you, more than likely, so the closer you get to the ball, the farther it goes away, and then you get away from the shoreline ... so it's extremely dangerous.
"Even if it's your bass boat, someone will come along and be able to get you in a boat and go out to that vessel and retrieve it," he said.
As far as boating safety, Westfall said boat owners need to do full safety checks before getting on the water, including making sure their batteries are charged and all navigation lights are in working order, regardless of whether they plan on operating at night.
The navigation lights can be extremely important in the case of a breakdown, he said, "because that's how other people see you at night."
"It's very important that you use those, even if you're at anchor. That white light is supposed to be on. Even if you're fishing with your trolling motor, it's best to keep those lights on so other boats can see you and steer clear of you."
Because alcohol is a factor in many boating-related deaths across the country, the Corps of Engineers always reminds boaters that "bourbon and water don't mix," and a designated boat operator should be used while out on the water.
Local on 05/25/2018