Corps Urges Safety This Holiday Weekend

[Phil Lilley]

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – During this Memorial Day weekend Army Corps of Engineers officials want lake visitors to be safe when on or near the water.

Nearly 90 percent of the drownings at Corps-managed lakes in 2012 could have been prevented if the victim had been wearing a life jacket. There are a number of styles available, including life jackets for paddling, water skiing, and riding a personal watercraft.

If you visit a lake without a life jacket, borrow one from us. Life jacket loaner boards helps ensure park visitors have the chance to safely enjoy water activities. The loaner program has limited quantities of life jackets for children and adults so use it for the day and return it.

Life jackets loaner stations are located at some parks at Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, Norfork, Clearwater, Greers Ferry, Nimrod, Blue Mountain, Millwood, Dierks, DeQueen, and Gillham lakes. Several Corps parks along the Arkansas River also have loaner stations.

Water safety tips and life jacket loaner program information can be found on the Internet at www.swl.usace.army.mil, Facebook at www.facebook.com/littlerockusace, and Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/usacelittlerock.