Be safe on the water!

Independence Day is right around the corner, and with it comes one of the busiest times of the year for recreation on the lakes. With thousands of people expected to visit the lakes this weekend, the Army Corps of Engineers reminds everyone to play it safe on the water. Among the important safety tips are to wear a properly-fitted, U-S Coast Guard approved life jacket. You can borrow a free life jacket for daily use from one of many life jacket loaner boards, located on swim beaches and other day-use areas. And know the risks of swimming in open water. Many times when park rangers respond to a drowning, they discover the victim was not wearing a life jacket. Craig Keese, whose son and grandson drowned in a lake three years ago, has devoted his life to spread the word about the importance of wearing a life jacket and being safe on the water.