EUGENE, Ore. – Ahead of summer’s last long holiday weekend, first responders are urging people to be wise while on Lane County waterways.
While life jacket use is the main message and one that many have heard before, Lane County sheriff’s deputies say it’s the most important life-saving tool for boaters.
A big issue: people not wearing it while on the water, instead deciding to keep it nearby in the boat thinking they’ll be able to put it on during an emergency.
“Whenever we respond to water rescues, I hear the story all the time from folks saying ‘it just happened so fast,’” said LCSO Search and Rescue Coordinator Tim Chase.
Chase equates life jacket use to wearing a seatbelt while driving.
“You don’t expect to put your seatbelt on when an accident is happening, you can't expect to be able to get your life jacket on once an accident starts," he said.
The holiday weekend comes after five fatalities in Lane County waters, according to LCSO.
Under Oregon law, children are required to wear life jackets.
“If you have juveniles 12 and younger on the boat they need to be wearing those life jackets. when we contact people without those life jackets on, our biggest part is trying to get compliancy, get the juveniles to wear the life vests. occasionally some of those situations lead to citations for people, that's generally a last process for us.,” said Deputy Eric Churchill with LCSO Marine Patrol.
Deputies say boaters also need to keep signaling devices like whistles and horns on their water craft.
The Oregon State Marine Board also keeps track of known water hazards in local lakes and rivers.