|
|
Water Safety
The staff at Old Hickory Lake is dedicated to sharing the
water safety message with our visitors and surrounding
communities. Help us eliminate unnecessary drownings by
wearing your life jacket when boating, swimming or
recreating in and around the water.
|
|
Life Jackets Float - You Don't
Did you know that approximately 700 people each year drown
nationwide from recreational boating accidents? That is why it is
imperative to wear a life jacket at all times while in and around
the water. Much like a helmet to a cyclist, life jackets are an
essential part of boating safety equipment and should be worn at all
times.
Life jackets are no longer the orange, hot and bulky vests that are
commonly associated with on-the-water safety gear. With new
innovations and developments, modern life jackets are now available
in various styles that are cooler, sleeker, and much more
comfortable without the loss of buoyancy.
Click here to learn more about the different types of life jackets.
Quickly becoming the life jacket of choice by many boaters,
inflatable life jackets can be purchased as "suspender" or "belt
pack" auto or manual inflatable. The learn more about the different
types and how to properly maintain and service inflatable life
jackets, click on the hyperlink below.
Click here to
learn more about inflatable life jackets.
|
Inflatable Life Jackets |
 |
 |
|
Before |
After |
 Kids Water Safety Zone
Attention kids and parents! Visit our Kids
Water Safety Zone webpage created just for you. This webpage
full of fun water safety activities, links to fantastic resources,
and great tips that will keep you and your family safe while you are
recreating in and around water.
Click here to enter the Kid's Water Safety Zone.
 Life
Jacket Loaner Program
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Old Hickory Lake is helping keep kids
safe by participating in the Life Jacket Loaner Program. This program allows
boaters and swimmers to borrow a child’s or adult life jacket for the day,
at no charge!
Here’s how the Life Jacket Loaner Program works. If you don’t have enough
properly-fitting life jackets on board or need a life jacket in a designated
swimming area, simply stop by one of the life jacket loaner boards located
at Old Hickory Beach, Cedar Creek Recreation Area, Laguardo or Lock 3
Recreation Area. When finished, simply return the jackets to the same
location.
 Safety Tips
- Learn to swim
- Always swim with a buddy
- Swim in designated areas
- Don’t rely on beach toys; they are not designed to save lives
- Never dive or jump into unknown waters
- Wear a life jacket if you can’t swim or if you are just learning to
swim.
- Know your boat; each boat has its own purpose. Make sure you use
your boat properly
- Always wear a life jacket while riding on a boat
- Don’t go on the boat if the operator has been drinking alcohol:
Booze and boats just don’t mix!
- Ride a Personal Watercraft only with an experienced adult driver
- Don’t stand while a small boat is moving
- Don’t sit on the gunwales or bow of a moving boat
- Know your state’s laws governing boating and fishing
Hypothermia-The Killer of the Unprepared
Boating in cold weather can be exhilarating, but it also puts you at
risk of falling into dangerously cold waters. Even boating in warm
weather can be dangerous if the water is much colder than the air.
As a general rule, if your air and water temperatures added together
equal less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, you should take the
following steps:
- Dress appropriately for the weather and other conditions. This
includes layering your clothing and wearing a hat and neck cover to
prevent unnecessary heat loss.
- Drink plenty of fluids and hot drinks (but not alcohol), and stay
nourished with high energy food bars.
- Bring a change of clothes in a waterproof bag if you are going to be
in or around water.
- Wear a life jacket while you are on the water. Studies have shown
that a combination of using the Heat Exchange Lessening Posture (H.E.L.P.)
and a life jacket can increase a person’s survival rate considerably.
Life jackets allow persons to keep still and adopt H.E.L.P. without
being compelled to tread water or swim to stay afloat, which can reduce
the survival time by 50%.
Click here to learn more about the symptoms and treatment of Hypothermia.
Hypothermia is called the killer of the unprepared. That is why it’s important you take the proper steps to reduce your risk the next time you plan on being in or around water.
Links of Interest
| Expect the unexpected, wear it! |
 |
 |
visitors since December 24, 2009 |
|
