Tragic reminders of need for water safety

Only a week after Memorial Day, Nebraska is running ahead of the yearly average for drownings.

The latest came Sunday with the deaths of a 16-year-old boy who got in trouble while swimming in one of the Fremont State Lakes, and an 8-year-old boy who fell off a pontoon boat when it struck the shore in Harlan County Lake.

Ironically, it's also only a few days after National Safe Boating Week, declared by Gov. Dave Heineman to call attention to the importance of wearing a life jacket on the water.

It's tragic when a swimmer drowns, and demonstrates the need for all of us to know our limitations and make sure we know how to swim.

But it's even more tragic when someone like the 8-year-old boy drowns simply because he wasn't wearing a life jacket -- something that's required for children under 13 years of age and that's wise for boaters of all ages.

Even though he was at shore, in only 7 or 8 feet of water, and others immediately went to his help, it was too late.

Sad, too, because there's no reason not to wear today's life jackets, which range from low-priced models to thin, inflatable styles that are designed to automatically turn the wearer face-up in the water.

With McCook in the center of a prime lake recreational region, it behooves us to take the lead in boating safety. Now, early in the year when boaters are still a little rusty about safety procedures, it's a good time to review the issues.

Situations like the Harlan County incident -- grounding and a passenger falling overboard -- are an all-too common accident, and a danger in Southwest area lakes when the water levels get low.

Others included collisions with another boat or an object in the water, fire or explosion. Besides wearing life jackets, boaters should stay alert and refrain from drinking alcohol while operating any watercraft.

One of the basic rules of boating is to be aware of the forecast and keep informed during times of changing weather patterns, said Herb Angell, Nebraska Boating Law Administrator. If the weather looks threatening, he said, get off the lake and out of your boat.

In addition to lightning, storms can produce heavy winds that can cause boats to capsize -- most boating fatalities occur because of capsizing or occupants falling overboard.

Boaters should remember that vessels are prohibited from exceeding speeds of more than 5 mph within 30 yards of any other vessel, harbor, marina, landing pier, fishing pier, anchorage or bathing beach. It is also illegal for personal watercraft to jump the wake of any boat at a distance of less than 50 yards or the wake of any boat that is towing someone.

With a little more attention to safety and responsibility, Nebraska can avoid more tragedies this summer.