Peoria 411

I’ve been providing these updates for over a year now and have never repeated a topic in consecutive months. However, with so many recent drownings at Lake Pleasant and other bodies of water, I wanted to take some time to address this reoccurring tragedy.

In 2022 there were 142 drowning incidents reported throughout Maricopa County, with 60 resulting in fatalities. This year, we are currently on pace to surpass this number, which was already at 5-year high. Quite frankly these numbers are appalling, and we continue to see this tragedy play out on the nightly news nearly every week it seems. Residents across Peoria and the entire valley should take the time to educate themselves and loved ones on appropriate water-safety measures.

One local business is responding to the call by providing FREE educational seminars about boating and water safety. Dillon’s Bayou continues to host monthly talks with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department, Arizona Game and Fish, Peoria Fire-Medical and the Desert Eagles US Coast Guard Auxiliary. To help make this an event everyone can enjoy, the gate fee is waived if you mention you are attending this meeting. Plus, you’ll receive a free breakfast burrito to enjoy while you learn, talk about awesome! The final two seminars are August 12 and September 9 from 9:00-10:00a.m. More details are available on the Mesquite District Facebook page.

Unfortunately, one of the most overlooked aspect of lake safety is the use of a life jacket when out on the water. I get it; we’re all experienced swimmers who don’t want a bulky, orange block on our shoulders. Well the truth is accidents on the water happen much too fast to reach and put on a stowed life jacket. The good news is that today’s life jackets are much more comfortable, lightweight, and stylish than what most people remember. Life jackets are available for almost any boating activity and use inflatable technologies that are cool and comfortable, with some automatically inflating in the water. Drowning is the reported cause of death in 80% of all boating fatalities, but we can work to change that statistic by simply wearing a life jacket.

Pleasant Harbor Marina also recognizes the importance of life jackets and is doing their part to keep everyone safe on the lake. The marina has implemented a Life Jacket Loaner Program, which provides the public with free use of life jackets from sizes infant to adult, on a firstcome, first-served basis. Anyone who forgot a life jacket, or needs a properly fitting one, can pick one up from the marina, enjoy the day on the water, and then simply return the jacket for someone else to use later on! I believe this is such an amazing community program with the potential to save lives that I chose to support the initiative directly by purchasing additional life jackets for use. I encourage everyone to spread the word about this program and the overall importance of wearing a life jacket on the water.

Let’s do our part this season to ensure we can all continue to enjoy outdoors we have come to know and love in Peoria. Have fun, be safe, and care for each other out there – I’ll see you on the lake.