Georgia DNR Officers Gives Safety Tips for Holiday Boating

Lake Hartwell is expected to be awash with visitors this July 4.

And officers with the Georgia Department of  Natural Resources along with Rangers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are out in force looking for impaired boaters and making sure everyone has a safe and fun holiday.

Georgia ranks sixth in the nation for boating fatalities, with 85 boating mishaps resulting in 22 deaths statewide last year, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

That’s why DNR Law Enforcement Officer Craig Fulghum has some common sense boating safety tips.

Fulghum said first and foremost never operate a boat while under the influence.

“When you’ve got warm weather and a full lake, that means a busy lake,” said Fulghum. “Make sure you find a sober operator when behind the wheel. We take boating under the influence very seriously, we have zero tolerance. We want folks to have a good time but do it in a responsible manner.”

Another way to make sure everyone on board your boat is safe, is to make sure they are all wearing life jackets.

Fulghum reminds boaters that in Georgia, state law requires children to wear a life jacket at all times while on the water.

“We also want to make sure that all children under the age of 13 have a life jacket on at all times while the vessel is in motion,” said Fulghum. “Make sure you have life jackets on board and make sure you’re within the carrying capacity for that boat.”

Now if you don’t have life jackets or enough life jackets for your boat, the DNR and the Corps of Engineers offer free life jackets to borrow for the day.

They’re located at the Tugaloo State Park Mega Ramp.
Finally, Fulghum reminds boaters and users of personal water craft to be considerate of those living on the lake.

To learn more about safe boating and to take an online boating safety class, you can go to the DNR Web site at: www.goboatgeorgia.com.