"Make the right choice" this Labor Day | Health

During this Labor Day weekend officials of the Army Corps of Engineers want lake visitors to make the right choice when on or in the water.  To help visitors do just that, the Corps’ Little Rock District is offering life jackets for loan at many of its parks in Arkansas and southern Missouri.

Visitors who arrive at a Corps lake this Labor Day weekend who forget to bring, or who do not own, a life jacket can check with the gate attendant or a volunteer camp host upon arrival.  The attendant may have a life jacket available for loan or may be able to direct the visitor to a nearby honor system loaner board.

The loaner program has limited quantities of life jackets for children and adults.  Loaner life jackets helps ensure park visitors have the chance to enjoy water activities safely.

     When deciding whether to wear a life jacket, consider:

•       Many drowning victims meant to be on shore or in a boat, not in the water.  
•       Waiting until there is an emergency to put on a life jacket is like trying to put on a seat belt just before a crash.
•       Even experienced swimmers can quickly get into trouble.
•       Adults can drown in less than a minute; children in as few as 20 seconds.

So make the right choice.  Wear a life jacket this holiday weekend when on or in the water.

A limited supply of life jackets are available for loan at Table Rock, Bull Shoals, Norfork, Clearwater, Greers Ferry, Nimrod, Blue Mountain, Millwood, DeQueen and Gillham lakes, as well as several Corps parks along the Arkansas River.

Water safety tips and life jacket loaner program information can be found on the Internet at www.swl.usace.army.mil or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/littlerockusace.