Staying Safe and Alive On and In the Water

PLAYING IT SAFE AT LAKE POWELL

• "Child Wearing Life Jacket Rescued After Being Thrown From Boat on Lake Powell"
   
• "Man Buried in Sand Cave Dies at Lake Powell"
   
• "Family Nearly Killed by Carbon Monoxide Poisoning While on Houseboat"
   
• "22 Year Old Man Breaks Neck While Cliff Diving at Lake Powell"
   
• "Elderly Woman Nearly Succumbs to Heat Exhaustion At Rainbow Bridge"

Every year people die, injure themselves and others, and cause property damage while recreating on Lake Powell. By following a few simple rules you can avoid the heartache and suffering experienced when you become a headline.

WATER RULES

This is not a toy. Personal watercraft are vessels. Make sure you're legally old enough to operate one. In Utah, you must be 18 years old to operate a personal watercraft alone (unless you comply with Utah personal watercraft operator conditions); in Arizona, you must be at least 12.

PFDs mean Protection From Drowning. Kids (12 years old and younger) must wear Personal Floatation Devices while on vessels.

Improve your odds. Most serious boating accidents involve alcohol. Leave alcohol alone while boating. Operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal.

Are you too close for comfort? Slow down and make no waves when 150 feet (46 m) from other vessels, people, or shore.

High winds equal high waves. Seek shelter when storms threaten. Wear life jackets.

Don't be a hood ornament. Bow-riding is dangerous and illegal; so is riding on transoms or gunwales.

Go jump in the lake? No way! Cliff jumping and diving is illegal and deadly.

Where's your buddy? Lake Powell has no lifeguards. Swim at your own risk and always with a partner.

It takes two to tango, but three to ski: driver, skier, and observer. Keep a brilliant orange flag up when someone's in the water. Never ski after dark.

Be careful what you breathe. Boat generators, engines, and gas appliances produce deadly carbon monoxide gases. Ensure proper ventilation. Don't swim, sit, or work near exhaust.

Glen Canyon is no rainforest. It's a desert. Keep your body protected, and drink lots of WATER. Let friends know your plans.

Look out below! Watch for underwater hazards. The lake level changes daily and seasonally. Only Lake Powell's main channel is marked with navigational aids.