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We want everyone to have a fun and safe 4th of July weekend, that is why we are urging everyone to
stay safe while enjoying water-related recreation such as boating or swimming.
Individuals
and families should plan ahead before enjoying a lake or swimming pool. A water
safety plan should include properly fitting life jackets, necessary safety
equipment, and a sober operator if using a boat.
The
Sheriff’s Water Patrol Unit will have additional patrols between Friday, June
30 and Wednesday, July 5, 2017. Deputies and volunteer Special Deputies will be
available to assist boaters who find themselves in distress or have questions
about area water regulations, they will also actively be patrolling for boaters
who are intoxicated.
Life
jackets are required to be worn by children less than 10 years old when on a
boat. Boats must also have an accessible life jacket for each person on a boat,
and at least one throwable device. Personal watercraft operators and
passengers, no matter the age, must wear a life jacket.
On
Lake Minnetonka, there are free life jackets available that boaters may borrow
for the day. The Kids Don’t Float program is a partnership between the
Sheriff’s Office, Safe Kids Northwest Metro Minneapolis and North Memorial
Medical Center. The life jackets are found inside storage containers located at
three public boat launch locations: Gray’s Bay, Spring Park Bay, and Maxwell
Bay.
Safety reminders for boaters
- Boaters should slow down and
make an extra effort to act in a courteous manner on crowded lakes and
rivers.
- Designate a sober boat operator
prior to your day of boating.
- It is highly recommended that
all passengers wear life jackets during boating.
- Be aware of the danger of a
boat propeller. People in the water, who are re-entering the boat, have
been injured by props.
Safety reminders for swimmers
WATCH
– your kids
- Parents must use active
supervision when children are in – or near – the water. In 70 percent of
cases where young children drowned, one or both parents were nearby. Being
nearby isn’t enough. Parents must focus on kids and avoid distractions
such as using cell phones or talking with other adults.
- Parent supervision is needed
even when lifeguards are on duty.
WEAR
– a life jacket
- Weak swimmers or non-swimmers
should wear life jackets in the water – including swimming pools.
Adult supervision is needed even when using a life jacket.
- Do not rely on water wings or
other inflatable devices.
LEARN
– to swim & learn about water safety
- Teach your kids to swim. Adults
must know how to swim too.
- Keep safety equipment near
pools, such as a shepherd’s hook. If attempting a rescue, hand something
to the struggling person or pull them to safety with the hook.
- Use safety precautions with
backyard kiddie pools. (One child drowns every five days in portable
pools.)
- Learn CPR and learn more about
water safety.
Volunteer
Special Deputies are an important component of the Sheriff Office, donating
more than 25,000 hours of time per year to serve the residents of Hennepin
County. During this year's extended 4th of July weekend, they will assist with
patrolling the county's waterways and roadways, responding to
emergencies, working at community events, and providing safety instruction
to residents.
- Special Deputies train and work
side-by-side with Sheriff's Office licensed deputies.
- Each Special Deputy contributes
192 hours per year through duty shifts, training, special details and
emergency call outs, and each member is required to work at least 16 hours
per month.
To
learn more about the Sheriff's Office Water Patrol Special Deputies you can read this StarTribune article from last summer. To read the article, click here.
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