GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – With the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend approaching, many people are expected to take to the waterways around Northeast Wisconsin.
Officials say with that fun, comes the responsibility to be safe.
Boating across the waters of Green Bay can be a challenge. Angler Jim Szewczyk says wearing a life jacket is a must.
“Because with the rockiness and stuff like that, you could flip out. So yeah, you definitely wear them.”
Szewczyk’s routine aligns with National Safe Boating Week. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources numbers indicate four people died in boating accidents so far this year, compared to 25 in 2021.
“Just stressing again, the importance of life jackets. Life jackets save lives. That’s our biggest concern, that people actually have them, and are wearing them especially, would be nice,” said Luke Polzin, DNR Conservation Warden,
Polzin tells FOX 11 all vessels need to have at least one wearable life jacket for each person on board, and federal law requires those under the age of 13 to wear an approved life jacket while underway in federally controlled waters. He says conditions can change quickly on the bay.
“It can happen to anybody. Obviously keep an eye on the weather, what it’s going to be like out on the lake, things like that. Just to be safe.”
And that’s not all.
“The only other thing that we really want to stress is being safe driving by not being intoxicated. We have a problem with that every year. Especially with the Memorial Day coming up. It’s a big concern of ours. So, if you’re going to drive, make sure you’re not drinking.”
The DNR reminds people wardens will be out Memorial Day Weekend too, patrolling area waterways.
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