“Boating safety ultimately begins with the choices and decisions boaters make before leaving the dock,” said Michael Quinn, acting chief of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Watercraft. “The decision to put on a life jacket before the boat gets underway is the most important one. In emergency situations, it may be impossible to locate stowed life jackets quickly or get them on and properly adjusted.”

The Division of Watercraft says 85 percent of boating fatalities result from drowning. In most cases, victims were not wearing life jackets.

Boaters also are reminded to limit alcohol consumption and stay sober while on the water. A boat operator is considered legally impaired when blood alcohol content exceeds .08 percent. Other boating safety tips include keeping a proper lookout for other boaters and objects in the water, staying alert to boating and weather conditions, and being prepared to provide emergency assistance when needed.

State watercraft officers and local marine patrols will be out in full force during the holiday weekend, patrolling state waterways to enforce state boating rules.

In April, the Division of Watercraft awarded a total of $567,504 in marine patrol grants to 31 local communities to assist in enforcing watercraft laws and maintaining safe boating on state waterways. The grants are used by local law enforcement agencies to provide emergency response to boating accidents, routine patrols on area waterways and to purchase safety equipment for use on their patrol vessels.