The top safety precaution for boaters this summer is to avoid alcoholic beverages if operating a motor boat.
"We crack down as hard as we can on drinking and driving," said John Saleb, public information officer at District 1 Headquarters for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.May 19-25 is National Safe Boating Week, and with the number of lakes around the area, it is wise to catch up on boaters safety precautions.
There is a campaign going on this week called "Wear It!" to promote the use of life jackets at all times on the water.
Saleb said he strongly supports this campaign and the use of life jackets by every person in the water or on a boat or watercraft.
The lakes will be "packed," especially over Memorial Day weekend. Boaters need to remember to slow down and be alert because not all other boaters will, Saleb said.
Operators of motor boats pulling persons behind, whether it's tubing, skiing or wakeboarding, need to be aware of their surroundings.
"It is the operator's responsibility to keep the people they are pulling safe," he said.
Operators should avoid congested areas. This especially goes for personal watercraft operators, Saleb said.
"There have been a lot of accidents involving personal watercraft getting too close to people in the water and other watercraft," he said.
Saleb encourages anyone planning on boating this summer to take the boater's safety course at www.in.gov.dnr
