RAMSEY COUNTY WATER PATROL LET’S TALK ABOUT LIFE JACKETS

Ah, spring in Minnesota.

After months of sub-zero temperatures, snow and sliding around on ice, we’re finally free to trade winter wear for swimsuits and get out onto one of Ramsey County’s lakes and soak up some sun.

And the Ramsey County Water Patrol Unit will be there to help keep you safe.

We have a team of highly trained law enforcement professionals who spend their days out on the county’s many lakes and rivers, working to prevent accidents and ensure compliance with state laws. They’re also the first call when someone goes overboard, which happens more often than a lot of people think.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 15 people lost their lives last year in boating incidents. Another 77 other boaters were injured and another

30 people drowned in non-boating incidents.

That’s the bad news.

The good news is that many waterrelated deaths are preventable – if only people would wear lifejackets.

With that in mind, we thought it would be a good time to talk a little bit about Minnesota’s lifejacket requirements.

Take a look and tuck this information away in the back of your mind. Better yet, cut out these tips and keep them in your boat. That way, you’ll never leave the dock without making sure everyone aboard in properly outfitted in gear that could potentially save a life.

State law requires the following:

• A readily accessible and wearable life jacket is required for each person on a boat. This includes canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and waterfowl boats.

• Children under 10 must wear a properly fitted life jacket while a boat is not securely fastened to a permanent mooring or tied to a dock.

• One “Type IV” throwable is required on boats that are 16 feet or longer (canoes and kayaks are exempt) and must be immediately available.

Personal watercraft operators and passengers must each wear a life jacket.

Of course, there are some exceptions: children don’t have to wear a life jacket when boats are anchored for swimming and infants under 6 months old or 16 pounds are probably too small for life jackets.

In short, if you’re on a boat, you’re going to want to have a life jacket with you (and preferably on you).

Enjoy the warm weather and open water, everyone! We’ll see you on the lakes and rivers (and hopefully we see you wearing your life jackets!).

The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, Water Patrol Unit, is responsible for law enforcement, safety instruction, and promotion of safe boating and riding habits on the county’s lakes, rivers, and trails. To prevent accidents and injuries and ensure compliance with state laws, the Water Patrol Unit proactively patrols the county’s waterways, parks, and trails. Using motor vehicles, boats, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and snowmobiles, this unit responds to incidents on the water, conducts rescue efforts, and recovers victims of water related incidents. Reach the Water Patrol at 651-490-4511.

Learn more at: ramseycounty.us/yourgovernment/leadership/sheriffs-office/ sheriffs-office-divisions/public-safetyservices/water-patrol-services ◼