Water safety always starts with a life jacket

The Grand River Dam Authority understands that being a good steward of the Grand River and the natural resources under its control also mean helping educate and support all those who utilize those resources.

Because of that, the GRDA Police have made life jacket education and awareness a major part of its efforts for several decades now. On the water, in the classroom, at special events, from inside its booth at a boat show and just about anywhere else that an audience can listen and learn, you can find GRDA patrolmen promoting the benefits of life jackets and other personal flotation devices (PFDs).

And it’s a message that needs to be told. According to statistics from the latest Life Jacket Wear Rate Observation Study (2017), released by the United States Coast Guard, the average wear rate for all boaters combined that year was 24.8 percent. While that number represents the highest rate observed in several years, there is still plenty of room for improvement. After all, statistics also found that 76 percent of all 2017 fatal boating accident victims drowned. Of those drownings, 84.5 percent were NOT wearing a life jacket.

If you are going to be on the lakes or rivers, GRDA encourages you to ALWAYS wear your life jacket. And if you are just now gearing up for boating season and perhaps in the market for a new life jacket, the GRDA Police Department wants to share the following tips with you:

• Buy your own personal life jacket. One size DOES NOT fit all.
• Look at the label. It will provide the weight, size and proper use of information.
• Try it on to check the fit. Once the straps and buckles are secured, it should not slip over your head or come down above your ears.
• Never use water toys in place of an approved life jacket.
• Check your life jacket year for flotation and fit.
• Finally, wear your life jacket to increase your chance of survival in an accident and to set a good example for others

Your friends at GRDA want you to have a safe, enjoyable summer on the water. That always starts with wearing your life jacket.

Headquartered in Vinita, GRDA is Oklahoma’s state-owned electric utility; fully funded by revenues from electric and water sales instead of taxes. Each day, GRDA strives to be an “Oklahoma agency of excellence” by focusing on the 5 E’s: employees, electricity, economic development, environmental stewardship, and efficiency.