In just a matter of seconds a fun day on the lake can turn into a life-threatening situation for yourself, friends, and family.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury death for children between the ages of one and five, and the fifth leading cause for adults in the U.S. Lake Darling State Park Ranger Zach Haworth advises how people can prevent drowning when they are boating this summer, “The first and foremost and most important thing is having a life jacket and it’s very much recommended to be wearing that life jacket. Children under the age of 14 must be wearing their life jacket at all times when a vessel is in motion, but it’s good practice for folks especially folks who aren’t as experienced or comfortable in the water, it’s very advisable for them to be wearing that life jacket at all times.”

At public swimming areas that aren’t staffed with a lifeguard such as Lake Darling, Haworth encourages adults to be constantly scanning the water for swimmers who may be struggling or having a medical emergency. Haworth, a CPR instructor, shares how being trained in CPR is crucial, “It’s good for folks to be familiar with CPR and get certified in CPR. One person in a group of say 10 people, if one person knows CPR that can drastically change, turn a negative outcome into something positive.”

For more information on how to get CPR training, call 319-653-2047.