Wearing a Life Jacket Can Save Your Life

Wearing a Life Jacket Can Save Your Life... By providing time to be rescued, it will help ensure you survive an unexpected fall into the water. An adult can drown in 60 seconds. It takes a strong swimmer 10 minutes to put on a life jacket after entering the water. If you will not wear it for yourself then wear it for those who love you.

A life jacket can't save your life unless you wear it

MYTH: You do not need to wear a life jacket while boating if you are a good swimmer.

FACT: It takes an adult about 60 seconds to drown. A life jacket can't save your life unless you wear it, and holding onto a life jacket can only save you if you are conscious. It is estimated that 90% of boating accident victims may have lived if they had been wearing a life jacket. The adult-type inflatable life jackets make wearing the gear more comfortable than ever before and they come in suspender and belt-pack styles. Make sure each of your loved ones always wears a life jacket.

Don't Wreck Your Spring Break

A group of friends wear lifejackets while on the water.

With spring around the corner, more than 3.7 million college students across the nation are preparing for a well earned spring break. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would like to urge everyone to play it safe while at the beach or around water. Don't wreck your spring break! Following these top ten tips could mean the difference between life and death.

Number 10: HELP (Heat Escape Lessening Position) can save your life in cold water. This position is where your knees are drawn up to your chest with your arms grasping them together helping retain body temperature until you are rescued. Wet clothing will not weigh you down in the water because water does not weigh more than water, so leave your clothes on. Additional layers of clothing can actually help you stay afloat by trapping air.

Number 9: Diving could be a neck-breaking experience, so never dive into unknown waters.

Number 8: Any beach that has breaking waves could have the potential to develop rip currents near the shore that can pull even the strongest swimmers out to sea. If you get caught in one of these narrow rip currents, swim parallel to shore until the current stops pushing you out.

Number 7: Never overestimate your swimming abilities, especially in open waters.

Number 6: Swim only in designated areas.

Number 5: Always swim with a buddy; never swim alone.

Number 4: Swim and boat sober. Drinking alcohol doesn't only make you do things that you wished you had not done by impairing your judgment. People under the influence of alcohol have drown because they become disoriented underwater and think they are swimming to the water surface, but in reality they are swimming down.

Number 3: If you are boating, wear a life jacket even if you know how to swim and don't expect to enter the water. Falls overboard are one of the main reasons people drown because your first gasp (gasp reflex) after falling into the water can kill you because it only takes only 1 Tablespoon of water in your lungs to drown.

Number 2: Choose the right life jacket for you and wear it. The new inflatable life jackets are lightweight and the belt-pack style of inflatable life jacket will still allow you to get a great tan.

The Number 1 tip that could mean the difference between life and death during spring break: Don't let anyone talk you into anything that you don't want to do. You have a brain; use it because peer pressure can kill you. Don't let someone's actions or perceptions influence you to cross your stupid line. If you feel uncomfortable leave the situation and stay alive.

No one can remove all of the risks, but putting safety first and following these simple tips can help students to enjoy their spring break and make lots of memories. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hopes that you have a safe and enjoyable spring break because you deserve it and your family wants you to return home safely.

Taking a boating safety course is as important as a driving course

You’ve already experienced how complicated driving can be. There are so many rules of the road to learn, as well as operator skills that are important for keeping you and your passengers safe. 

The same holds true for boating. A boating course will teach you the important boating procedures, as well as what you should know about equipment and emergencies. You recognize the risk of heading out on the freeway with no introduction to traffic laws and procedures, but probably see no harm in cranking a Jet- Ski up to 60 mph with no knowledge of boating traffic rules? 

Driving or boating – you should know before you go! Take a Boating Safety Course online! 

For more water safety information check out the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's National Water Safety Page.

Taking a boating safety course is as important as a driving course

You’ve already experienced how complicated driving can be. There are so many rules of the road to learn, as well as operator skills that are important for keeping you and your passengers safe. 

The same holds true for boating. A boating course will teach you the important boating procedures, as well as what you should know about equipment and emergencies. You recognize the risk of heading out on the freeway with no introduction to traffic laws and procedures, but probably see no harm in cranking a Jet- Ski up to 60 mph with no knowledge of boating traffic rules? 

Driving or boating – you should know before you go! Take a Boating Safety Course online! 

For more water safety information check out the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's National Water Safety Page.

Give A Gift That Could Save Someone’s Life

Christmas is almost here and the St. Louis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would like to offer a gift idea that could save the life of someone you love.  If your loved one likes to spend time on or around the water, a life jacket is the perfect gift.

The majority of drownings can be directly tied to not wearing a life jacket.  If your loved one will not wear a life jacket because it is too hot and bulky consider one of the new inflatable life jackets. 

Inflatable life jackets offer a comfortable alternative to the familiar traditional life jackets most of us are used to wearing.  Inflatable life jackets come in a variety of styles including belt and suspender types and some styles automatically inflate when a person falls into the water. 

Prices for the new, comfortable, inflatable life jackets range in price from $50 to $135 – a small price to pay to ensure the safety of your loved ones.

Most people don’t expect to fall overboard or have their boat capsize but it happens way too often.  No matter how good a swimmer someone is, if they exceed their abilities and they are not wearing a life jacket their chances of drowning are greatly increased.  A life jacket could save their life. 

So this Christmas remember to purchase the ones you love a present they can live with – a life jacket.

For more Water Safety tips and information, check out the Corps of Engineers National Water Safety Program website and Bobber.com for water safety cartoons and other water safety fun!

Rafting boats safely on Lake Shelbyville

On our latest water safety video, St. Louis District Commander Col. Tom O'Hara talks about the popularity of rafting - tying two or more boats together - on Lake Shelbyville, and how the folks enjoying the lake this holiday weekend can do so safely.

For more videos, check out our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/teamsaintlouis