Memorial Day is the unofficial start to boating season.
While a day on the lake can be a lot of fun, officials say boats should be treated as seriously as cars.
Keystone Lake will be packed in a day or two, but before you head out on the water, Assistant Lake Manager Hutch Todd is warning people to slow down and think about safety.
“You know, as long as you’re paying attention, you have a sound mind, and you’re making good decisions, most accidents can be avoided,” said Todd.
Todd said boaters too often throw caution to the wind.
“And, unfortunately, that’s when things happen,” he said. “Nobody plans to have an accident, they can happen quickly, and you definitely don’t want to get complacent.”
Todd explained the most commonly reported accidents happen when two boats collide.
“Surely there’s more vessel versus fixed object,” said Todd. “But those don’t get reported all the time.”
The most easily avoidable accidents, though, are drownings.
“If you’re going to be around the water, it’s great to wear your life jacket,” said Todd. “That can prevent most drownings, and most people that end up drowning never intended on being in the water. So even if you know how to swim, most of the time, that’s not a good enough excuse.”
Todd assists in rescue efforts as part of his duties, this has included rescuing people who thought they didn’t need life jackets.
“You see everything from people that are excited to see you and are glad you’re there, to stress, high anxiety levels, and not sure what to do," he said.
A rescue is the best case scenario, but it’s not always what happens.
“You know, having to go out and recover somebody’s loved ones,” said Todd. “Help give them peace of mind and a little bit of closure on something that’s tragic and changed their life forever.”
Todd wants boaters to wear their life jackets, make sure they have working fire extinguishers, and avoid drinking and boating.
“We see it almost daily, probably daily,” said Todd. “Anytime we go out, we see alcohol being consumed. Boating and alcohol are never a good mix. Similar to operating a vehicle, it is a violation and can be enforced by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.”
Keystone Lake, and most of Oklahoma’s largest lakes, fall under joint jurisdiction between OHP and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Todd is a civilian working for the Corps of Engineers.
Todd said most victims of boating accidents were convinced it wouldn’t happen to them.
“Most fatalities are males over the age of 18,” said Todd. “Not necessarily what you’d think would be a victim of something like drowning, but it’s that overconfidence that can oftentimes lead to tragedy.”