If your plans include hitting up the lakes and reservoirs in the Uintah Basin then slow down and be sure all safety precautions are being taken as drownings occur every summer. The Utah Department Natural Resources reports that nationally, 80% of people who drowned in boating accidents would have survived had they been wearing a life jacket. Utah law says there must be at least one properly sized U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket for each person aboard a vessel. Life jackets must be readily accessible and not in an out-of-reach location or in original packaging. Check the label to see if it’s U.S. Coast Guard approved. A life jacket should be inspected often. Look for the following: free of rips, tears, and holes in the fabric; seams, straps, and buckles in good condition; and free of mildew odor and waterlogging. It is best safe practice to wear your life jacket while swimming from your boat in open water. Please be safe around water and use appropriate life jackets.
