DNR Officials Urge Safety on Lake Hartwell During National Safe Boating Week

The Memorial Day holiday weekend has not begun officially, but already visitors to Lake Hartwell are starting to arrive and looking forward to several days of fun on the water.

That’s why the Georgia Department of Natural Resources wants everyone to remember a few simple safety measures to ensure you and your loved ones have a great and safe holiday.

This is National Safe Boating Week, and according to DNR Law Enforcement officer Craig Fulghum, one of the simplest ways to do that is to wear a life jacket.

“As far as life jackets, make sure each individual has a life jacket on the boat,” he said. “If they’re under the age of 13, they have to have a lifejacket on at all times. That’s a big safety issue on Lake Hartwell. We’ll be looking for boats with children making sure they have on a life jacket and that it’s the proper size and fit.”

Several years ago, the DNR instituted a life jacket lending kiosk on Lake Hartwell.

Fulghum says it’s a great way to make sure you have enough life jackets on board.

“One of the programs that we’re very proud of is the life jacket loaner board at Tugalo State Park,” he said. “If you’re out there on the water and you find you are one or two short or they don’t fit right, you can go up to our life jacket loaner board at the mega ramp and borrow one or two for the day. All we ask is that when you’re done using it that your bring it back.”

Fulghum asks anyone with extra life jackets that they’re no longer using to consider donating them to the DNR for their life jacket loaner board program.

Finally, forecasters are calling for more scattered showers throughout the Memorial Day weekend, and Fulghum says it’s important you know what to do in the event of a storm.

“That’s going to be a problem this weekend with the weather being unstable,” Fulghum noted. “The main thing is that you’re always prepared; keep an eye on the radar and make sure you can get to shore quickly and get to shelter fast in the event of a storm. Cellphones are very useful for using radar to let you know when a storm is coming. Try not to use the big water near the dam. Try to stay in these small areas where you can get back quick to your home or the boat ramp. It looks like these storms start ramping up towards evening and after dark and the last place you wnt to be is on the water at night when a storm comes up. So always pay attention to your radar and to your surroundings.”

And Fulghum also reminds boaters that it is now law in Georgia that sure all young people on board born after 1998 have a boater education license.

He said another free boating safety class is coming up June 11 at the Corps of Engineers Lake Hartwell office.