Alcohol and lack of life jackets are biggest fears for accidents and drownings on Colorado waters

PUEBLO, Colo. (KKTV) - Upon celebrating everything red, white, and blue for the 4th of July on Thursday, many families might choose to celebrate at a lake or another body of water. A Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) park ranger at Lake Pueblo State Park says, they usually see overcrowding of boats and operators not paying attention to their surroundings. These factors can create safety hazards, that have the potential for dire consequences.

Lake Pueblo was at capacity on July 4 at 10:30 a.m., meaning no more vehicles were getting in until the capacity closure is lifted.

"Especially at holiday weekends, we see a lot of overloading of boats, people will come out with small vessel, and they've got one extra kid then that goes like over the capacity of what their boat is," Lucas Owens, CPW park ranger at Lake Pueblo State Park said. "People forget we've had incidents out here where whole families have loaded up onto boats that were too small, and it's turned into huge tragedies."

On a holiday like the 4th of July, it's no surprise to see people pouring drinks to celebrate. However, Owens said alcohol effects can have a greater influence on a person by water than it does on land.

"The last study I saw was, it's about one drink on the water is approximately equal to about three drinks on land..." Owens said. "I think our statistics show around a third of all boating accidents are somehow involved with alcohol, I think that's probably underreported."

The greater influence comes from the stressors of being on a boat. Dehydration occurs with sun exposure, waves and wind can make a person lose their balance, and with alcohol added to the list... consequences can occur with the lack of stability and awareness.

"It was around 2020, we had several drownings that happened just offshore in less than ten feet of water, where a lot of times again, alcohol was involved," Owens said. "So high alcohol levels in your body... the beaches out here are not just a straight slope."

The lack of lifejackets is another major cause of accidents and drownings in Colorado waters.

"We're already 20 drownings in, for the year, for the state," Owens said. "So at least here at Lake Pueblo, we've kind of taken a zero-tolerance policy on not having your life jacket with those paddle sports."

Owens said paddle sports have become more popular at Lake Pueblo, and that they're seeing others not realize, that having one... is mandatory. For boats, life jackets should be on board for every person that's physically on the boat. Each person should know where that life jacket is in case of an emergency. The Lake Pueblo State Park ranger says it's crucial to make sure safety gear is accounted for, including throwables and ropes.

"Most of the drownings that we see, we're having to get divers and Sonar and things like that because they weren't wearing flotation when they went in," Owens said. "And that's just extremely common, unfortunately, with our drownings."

Violations won't go unseen, and those failing to follow the laws and regulations of the body of water they're in will pay up to continue holding the safety standards for all.

CPW PARK RANGER'

- Pay attention and double-check the vessel's capacity limit.

- Stay aware of surroundings and people out and about to avoid collisions.

- Know the laws and regulations of that body of water.

- Send location to loved ones, with the times one is leaving and coming back.

- Make sure safety gear is accounted for onboard and in the water.

- Make sure the vessel runs well, and all functions are known for usage.

- Find spots on the water that have cellphone coverage.

- Have a life jacket near or on at all times.

- Check the weather for storms.

- Distances of water can be deceptive.

- The terrain of the beaches is not always a straight slope.