Tourism Officials Release Safety Tip
For a Fun and Safe Holiday Weekend
OKLAHOMA CITY - Officials with the Oklahoma
Tourism and Recreation Department said they want this to be a “fun and
safe” holiday weekend for all Oklahomans and out-of-town guests visiting
state parks. To assist with that goal OTRD released a list of safety tips
for park goers.
“Independence Day weekend will be a busy
time at all of the state parks,” Robb Gray, OTRD Executive Director said.
“We are excited to host all the guests, and want everyone to enjoy our
state’s amazing resources, but in order to do that there are some safety
concerns that we would like people know about before they travel.”
Gray said the most frequent problem seen by
park rangers is lake users not wearing lifejackets. “Anyone swimming or
operating recreational lake vehicles should wear a lifejacket, but it is
particularly disturbing to see children without them.” Every drowning or
near drowning incident at state parks this year was the result of the
victim not wearing a lifejacket, Gray related.
At many of the state lake parks the
Brittany Project provides loaner lifejackets. The program is sponsored by
the Oklahoma SAFE KIDS Coalition in conjunction with OTRD. “This program
has saved countless lives and has been a wonderful example of
collaboration among groups with a common mission.” Gray said the project
was named after four-year-old Brittany Mobley, who drowned at Lake
Thunderbird in 1996 as a result of not wearing a lifejacket.
Safety Tips
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All children in and around the water must
wear a lifejacket. Inspect your boat, recreational vehicle or camper to
ensure all systems are working properly and are up to code. If you are
in need of medical attention or assistance from law enforcement know
exactly were you are located so they will know were to respond. Mobile
phones will not indicate your position.
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Have a first aid kit.
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Keep your valuables stowed in a safe
place that is out of sight.
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Familiarize yourself with boating safety
rules. |
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Have water for your pets and keep them on
a leash so not to disturb other guests.
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Dispose of glass bottles and trash.
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Use alcohol in moderation.
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Fireworks are strictly prohibited in
state parks. |
The mixture of alcohol and hot
temperatures, predicted to be in the nineties this weekend, could be a
primer for dangerous things to occur, Gray related. “Our rangers are
equipped to handle most any problem that could arise, but there is no
safety measure as great as using a little common sense,” he said. “Our
parks are natural resources meant for people to enjoy. Take the time to be
a courteous and responsible guest so that everyone may equally enjoy their
holiday weekend,” he concluded.
