DNR official highlights dangers of consuming alcohol when boating [Ottumwa Courier, Iowa]

June 27--CENTERVILLE -- With Independence Day approaching, many are preparing to take their boats to area lakes and rivers to enjoy the holiday.

But Iowa Department of Natural Resources officials are advising people to use caution when on the water, especially if alcohol is involved.

Jacob Fulk, conservation officer for IDNR, said there haven't been any "incidents" at Rathbun Lake this year -- knock on wood.

"We encourage everybody to wear lifejackets," Fulk said. "The legal limit is .08 for blood alcohol content [BAC] on a boat, but it's probably better to not drink at all."

With waves throwing off a person's equilibrium and the sun beating down on and dehydrating a person, Fulk said drinking alcohol is about the worst thing a person can do while boating.

"People don't realize how intoxicated they are," he said.

The most recent drowning at Rathbun Lake happened two years ago, when Michael J. Copeland, 23, of Glendale Heights, Ill., was trying to recover a flotation device and never resurfaced.

"[Copeland] was in very good shape," Fulk said. "His body locked up when he got in the water. It was cold enough that he went into shock. Even if you think you're a great swimmer, there's no reason to not put a lifejacket on."

A lifejacket, he said, also could have saved the life of Ames police Sgt. Howard Snider, 51, at Lake Geode on June 17. Snider was swimming out to reach his daughter, who was unable to get out of a boat by herself after wind pushed it away from the dock, when he was unable to continue swimming and drowned.

Another man, Kelly Starrett, 49, was killed the same day. Starrett was thrown into the water near the Birdland Marine in Des Moines on the Des Moines River after his and another boat collided.

Two others thrown from the boat were treated and released. The drivers of the boats, Steven Mayo, 54, and Tony Starrett, 46, Kelly's brother, were charged with boating while intoxicated.

The next day, June 18, two more drownings occurred.

Kevin Kong, 17, swam out past the safety buoys at Raccoon River Park in West Des Moines when he panicked and drowned.

Just an hour later, Andres Favela, 10, went underwater on the Iowa River in Marshalltown and never resurfaced. His body was pulled from the river the next day.

And just two days ago, a man was reported missing after falling from a speeding boat on the Mississippi River in Dubuque. The search for the man continued on Tuesday.

There are more than 230,000 registered boats in Iowa, according to the IDNR. On every registered boat, there must be a lifejacket for each person on board and a fire extinguisher, among other items, which can be found at www.iowadnr.gov/recreation/boating.

"Pay attention to what the buoys say," Fulk said. "Especially on Rathbun, there are areas where there's hazard buoys, because it's either extremely shallow or there are rock structures out there just under the water's surface."

At the very least, have one person on the boat remain sober, Fulk said, just as you would have a designated driver on land.

"Because you're not just on the boat, you have to get in a vehicle and try to tow your boat home," Fulk said. "For some reason, there's this mentality on a boat that you have to have a beer in your hand."

There will be patrol officers out, and especially on holiday weekends extra police officers will be out.

"It's not like they're doing giant sting operations, but it's to wake people up every once in awhile," Fulk said. "Drinking is as big of an issue on lakes as it is on roads."

To better prepare themselves, boaters of any age can take a boater safety course, though it's required for people under 18 to operate a boat by themselves.

"There are a lot of insurance companies out there that do give discounts on boat insurance [if a person takes the course]," Fulk said.

Those interested can find a course online at iowadnr.gov/training.

2012 recreational boating incidents in Iowa as of June 18:

--15 personal injuries

--6 fatalities

--2 property damage

-- Information courtesy of the IDNR

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(c)2012 the Ottumwa Courier (Ottumwa, Iowa)

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