Thousands of people are hitting the lake this Labor Day weekend. In Grand Prairie, Joe Pool Lake was packed with people along the shoreline. But boating is the number one activity there.
There are plenty of things that can turn a fun holiday weekend on the lake into a dangerous situation.
Since Aug. 31, 2013, Texas game wardens responded to 86 people killed in Texas waters in boating or swimming accidents. The agency says 90 percent of accidents are preventable.
Wearing a life jacket is the best way to do that. But the agency also recommends boaters using the kill switch to stop the engine if somebody falls over board and also to closely supervise their children.
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“We really want people to wear life jackets when they come out here on the water,” said Lt. Sam Cary with the Grand Prairie Fire Department. “It's the safest thing they can do whether they’re boating or swimming.”
This year, the Grand Prairie Fire Department has increased their presence at Joe Pool Lake. In 2013, three people drowned.
So far in 2014, there has been one drowning at Joe Pool Lake, none at Lake Ray Hubbard and three deaths at Lewisville Lake.
Every weekend there's a crew from the Grand Prairie Fire Department is at Joe Pool Lake during the summer months this year, unlike last year when they didn’t have any personnel there. But their message about life jackets is becoming very clear to many boaters,
“It’s very important,” said Hannah Delong, who was boating with her family Sunday at Joe Pool Lake.
“Because you don't know what could happen out there. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.”
