LSO says not to panic if you fall in a lake and make sure you have proper safety equipment on your boat.
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – If you see a Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office marked boat when you are out on the lake, don’t be alarmed.
In 2017, LSO launched its marine unit to help keep people safe when they are out on the water.
“Our primary goal with the marine unit is really just having presence out there at the lake,” Dep. John Brady said.
So what should you do if you fall into one of Lancaster County’s lakes?
“If you are the party that falls into the water, and obviously, it’s a very difficult thing to do, is to not panic” Brady said. “Your body is built to float, so if you don’t panic, and you relax, you just kind of do slow movements, you’re naturally going to stay afloat, at least for a time being for somebody to come get you.”
As of now, the LSO marine unit has one marked boat that rotates between lakes on the weekends. One of the most important things boaters can do to make sure they are safe on the water is to make sure they have the proper safety equipment onboard.
“We want the folks that are on that lake also recreating to react and to help the folks that are out there,” Brady said. “That’s really what needs to happen and the proper equipment on your boat will absolutely increase your chances of getting back onto that boat safely.”
Essential equipment includes life vests, throw cushions, fire extinguishers, and whistles to call for help. The Marine Unit works with boaters to make sure they know what they should have on their boat to be safe on the water and ready to respond in case of an emergency.
“We want everybody to know, the citizens and the people who come to visit the lakes here in Lancaster County, that we’re out there and that we’re making sure that everybody has a positive experience so that they come back,” Brady said.
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