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PROVO — Each summer, thousand of people flock to Utah’s lakes, and each summer crews respond to hundreds of water emergencies.
I visited Utah Lake, one of the most popular boating lakes in the state, to learn how best to survive a water emergency. Utah Lake also is one of the busiest for search and rescue.
“We do between a dozen and two dozen search and rescues each year, well over 100 boater assists each year,” said Jason Allen, a ranger at Utah Lake State Park.
Saratoga Springs Fire and Rescue is one of the agencies that responds to those emergencies. People in distress make several common mistakes during an emergency, according to Capt. Tyson Frazier.
“The biggest mistake we have is people don’t stay with their boat,” he said. “We want them to hold on to that capsized boat, try to pull themselves out of the water and into the hull of the boat and stay there, out of the water.”
While being rescued, I learned several helpful tips.
If you're caught in the water without a life vest or something to hold on to, float on your back to conserve energy. Don’t shed shoes or clothing — that only exposes you more quickly to hypothermia.
Try to get a head count of your group and pull them together.
Also, rescuers do not recommend trying to swim to shore.
“A lot of times people panic, try to fight to get back to shore and they expend all their energy. It’s a lot harder for the body to maintain its body temperature,” Frazier said.
Utah Lake is known for its rough water during storms. Allen said boaters often get caught off guard.
“They underestimate how violent the lake can get,” he said. “Being a shallow lake, it doesn’t take much of a breeze to kick up some large waves. If people aren’t prepared for them, it can get them into trouble.”
Experts recommend the following precautions:
- Always wear a life jacket
- Check the weather forecast
- Don't exceed capacity on your watercraft
- Don’t drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, which is illegal
A Utah boat safety course is available. Find information at www.boat- ed.com/Utah
