Corps Reminds Visitors to Lake Hartwell this Summer to Plan Ahead

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hartwell Lake Office is offering some safety tips for those planning to spend their July 4th holiday on or in the water or camping at one of their campsites.

Annette Dotson is a Ranger with the Hartwell Lake Office. Dotson said if you plan to visit the lake over the long 4th holiday be prepared.

One of the first and most important things visitors to the lake should do is make sure they have enough life jackets with them.

Dotson said a survey of drownings on Corp lakes revealed that most of the drownings were men and were not wearing a life jacket.

Dotson added that a life jacket stored under a seat still in its original packaging will not help anyone in an emergency.

In Georgia, all boaters must have an accessible life jacket on board for every adult and child, and children age 13 and under must have a life jacket on at all times while on the water.

The same goes for swimmers.

Even if you’re a good swimmer, you can still drown because of unexpected drop-offs and dead vegetation under the water.

So swimmers should also make sure they’re wearing a life jacket and swim in designated areas only.

Also, a reminder that visitors to the lake over the July 4th holiday are not allowed to set off fireworks either at a campsite or on the water.

Anyone caught with fireworks will face stiff fines, according to Dotson.