SHAWANO, WI – As boating season continues across Wisconsin, officials are urging boaters to make safety a top priority.
Clark Delzer with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says one of the most important safety requirements is making sure every person on board has a wearable life jacket, also known as a personal flotation device (PFD). “That’s the biggest safety one. That one’s super important,” Delzer said. “There needs to be one for each person on board.”
Delzer also emphasized the importance of having child-sized life jackets available for younger passengers. “If you have a child or a baby on your boat, we just need to make sure that we have a PFD that’s fit for them,” he said.
Another key safety feature Delzer mentioned is the Type IV throwable flotation device. “A lot of people recognize it as that square butt pad with the two straps on it,” he explained. “People often use it as a seat cushion, which is totally fine, but its real purpose is as a throwable device. If you see someone struggling in the water, you can throw it to them to grab onto and float.”
The DNR encourages all boaters to check their safety equipment before heading out and to always wear their life jackets while on the water.
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