During these beautiful summer days in Lake Orion, where ‘living is a vacation,? the city’s many lakes tempt us all to take a day in the sun. Whether you’re planning to crack open a couple of beers with some friends on a boat or build a couple of sandcastles with your playmates, the dangers of lakeside activities are always present.
Boaters, swimmers, divers and even tanners are susceptible to serious injury and fatality. These groups are liable to collisions and drownings, a few of which have occurred already this season on Oakland County lakes.
‘These incidents can occur at anytime, especially at the end of the season,? said Oakland County Sergeant Dan Toth of lake accidents. ‘We don’t want (lake-goers) to let their guard down toward the end of the season.?
‘The major contributing factors in the vast majority of accidents are a combination of lack of a flotation device, alcohol, and careless or reckless operation,? Toth added.
The use of alcohol is particularly worrisome. Fifty-percent of all drownings are due to the use of alcohol.
The use of alcohol does not only pose a danger to those on a boat, but also those on a raft, dock or even the shore. Sixty-three-percent of all drowning victims never intended to be in the water, which means the dangers of accidentally falling in the water, especially while intoxicated, are huge.
The best advice Sergeant Toth gives to limit these dangers is to take a boater’s safety class and to avoid the use of alcohol on the water. While boaters safety courses are only required of those between the ages of 12 and 16, it can be an important safety precaution for any boater, especially those who have never taken the course before.
Coast Guard statistics show that 70-percent of the individuals involved in serious boating accidents have not taken the proper boater’s safety course.
Boaters and lake-goers should also bear in mind that the effect of alcohol is magnified three times while on the water. This amplification is due to boaters fatigue (a combination of being in the sun and being off of land) and to the constant rocking motion felt on boats and rafts.
For those lake-goers who do not plan on using alcohol or taking a boat ride, some precautions must still be taken.
‘Caregivers should never leave small children alone near the water for even five seconds,? warns Toth, ‘because most drownings take only less than 60 seconds to occur.?
Toth also warns that swimmers should refrain from moving to unmarked areas, or areas with no lifeguard. This is largely due to the fact that lifeguards are likely to pick out a drowning swimmer where the average person couldn’t.
Unlike the Hollywood portrayal of drowning victims (hands waving, screams for help), most drowning victims go into an ‘instinctive drowning posture,? according to Toth, ‘with their hands down to their sides, and they are unable to cry out for help.?
While the average person may observe that a person in such a posture is simply having fun in the water, a lifeguard is trained to pick out the particular nuances of a drowning swimmers posture.
Sergeant Toth also warns swimmers not to swim alone and not to be an overconfident swimmer. Oftentimes, an overconfident swimmer will pick out a destination to swim towards, but will underestimate its distance and quickly become fatigued. It is important to have a partner while attempting any such swim, preferably one on a boat or with a flotation device.
The Review hopes that all lake-going Orion residents will do their part to keep our lakes safe, and that all boaters and swimmers will be especially vigilant as the summer months come to a close.
For more information on water safety or to sign up for a boater’s safety course, visit www.oaklandsheriff.com.