Texas Game Wardens are urging boaters to prioritize water safety this summer after a 60-year-old Lubbock woman died in a drowning incident at Lake Brownwood over the weekend.
As temperatures rise across the state, officials say more families are heading to lakes and waterways, making boating and water safety awareness more critical than ever.
Texas Game Warden Amelia Springer said one of the most important steps boaters can take before heading onto the water is ensuring they have the proper safety equipment on board.
“Before you get your boat out on the water, you want to make sure that you have plenty of life jackets on board,” Springer said.
Game wardens say they increase patrols across Texas lakes during the summer months to check vessels for required safety equipment, including life jackets, fire extinguishers, horns and whistles.
Springer said many boaters pull vessels out of storage after months of inactivity and may not realize equipment needs to be updated or replaced.
Officials are also warning against boating while intoxicated. While consuming alcohol on a boat is legal in Texas, operating a vessel under the influence is not.
“It’s not illegal to drink while you are out on a boat. However, it is illegal to be boating while intoxicated,” Springer said.
Texas Parks and Wildlife also reminds boaters that anyone born on or after Sept. 1, 1993, must complete a boater education course before operating a vessel on Texas waterways.
Authorities say taking proper precautions and preparing before heading onto the water can help prevent tragedies during the busy summer boating season.