Summer safety: Bring your life jacket

(WPRI) - If you plan on heading out to sea this summer, remember to wear your life jacket.

As you and your family prepare to hit the waves, remember that the majority of drownings can be prevented by wearing an approved floatation device.

In the Ocean State, anyone under the age of 13 is required wear some sort of life jacket when on a boat.

However, Ranger Travis Miller believes that parents should “always have [children] in a lifejacket, even if you don’t plan on going in the water.”

Rangers say they see careless operation of boats and wave runners all the time. Just like out on the roadways, driving a boat under the influence is against the law.

When it comes to safety, the Army Corps of Engineers reminds swimmers not to be overconfident.

According to Colonel Michael Teague, many people underestimate the strong currents. “We’ve had folks jump out of boats and say ‘well I can swim to shore’ … 40 yards in open water is a long-long way and they can’t do it,” he said.