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Randall Jeppesen ReportingState park rangers from every major lake in Utah practiced their rescue skills Thursday at Utah Lake. It's in preparation for what's expected to be a busy summer of boating.
The rangers entered their boats to search for rescue dummies floating in the lake. State park boating coordinator David Harris says the rangers want to be prepared as possible to save lives. Last year 10 people died on Utah lakes.
"If five of those, individuals had had life jackets on, they would have likely survived," Harris says. "Some died from collisions. Some fell overboard and drowned."
State park manager Ty Hunter says rangers get called out for rescues too frequently to count. Rescues range from boats capsizing to others just running out of gas.
Two years of good snow fall has done wonders for Utah Lake, though.
"It looks better than what it has in years. We are at capacity right now, if not above it," Hunter says.
