With the Memorial Day weekend approaching later this month, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reminds those planning to enjoy Lake Red Rock and other area rivers, lakes, or streams, of the importance of practicing safety in and around the water.

Park Ranger Tracy Spry strongly encourages people of all ages to practice water safety at all times, and also reminds those planning to use their boats at the lake during Memorial Day to have the required and proper safety equipment with them.

“Everybody is required to have a life jacket with them. It has to be able to fit them properly, and be in good shape and also appropriate for the sport. If your boaters are under the age of 13, it has to be on their person when their boat is underway. Anybody 13 and over on the boat, the life jacket has to be readily accessible. But I like to make the case that my seat belt might be readily accessible if it’s sitting to the side of me in the car, but if I don’t put it on, I’m not going to have time to put it on in an accident and that can happen with a boating incident as well.”

Hear more from Tracy Spry on today’s Let’s Talk Pella.