Jul 4, 2009 10:02 pm US/Central
Wardens Making Sure Area Lakes Safer This Holiday
SELENA HERNANDEZ
LEWISVILLE (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
On this July 4th Holiday weekend, Texas Game Wardens set out to avoid danger and drownings on area lakes. Just last year, seven people lost their lives in North Texas lakes. Now, wardens are warning - if you're on the waters, make sure you're sober and safe.
"We work hard to keep people safe on this lake," Game Warden Stormy McCuistion said.
Already this weekend, a 21 year old man drowned at Lake Ray Roberts. Wardens say he was swimming in waters just 8-feet deep. Wardens want to prevent more unfortunate drownings, so they're making sure every boater and every person on a water craft is properly equipped with a life jacket.
"It just goes without saying, these life jackets save your life. Whether you're in a boat or on the banks – the jackets save lives everytime," McCuistion said.
Wardens say life jackets are the first line of defense in preventing drownings. They also say most lake drownings happen close to the shore and in some cases involve alcohol.
"You just have to watch what you do and be safe," lakegoer Joshua Barriner said.
As wardens watch the waters, Barriner implements his own safety measures when it comes to swimming in the lake.
"I usually know my limitations where I can go and where I can't." a key element of survival, wardens say, when it comes to avoiding dangers that lurk on the lake.
"Underwater you really don't know what's down there, or how deep it is. Once you're underneath, you can't see anything like you can in a pool and that's the biggest part of it – we need people to use more common sense than anything."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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