NDG&F to participate in Operation Dry Water

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will participate in Operation Dry Water as part of a nationally-coordinated effort to increase knowledge about the dangers of boating under the influence. The goal is to reduce the number of accidents and deaths associated with alcohol and drug use on state waterways.

ODW weekend, July 1-3, is the national weekend of heightened enforcement directed at boating under the influence laws and recreational boater outreach.

While educating boaters about the hazards associated with boating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a year-round effort, on ODW weekend the Game and Fish Department’s game wardens focus on the water, informing boaters about safe boating practices, and removing impaired operators from the water.

Tips for staying safe on the water:

• Boat sober – Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in recreational boater deaths. Alcohol and drug use impair a boater’s judgment, balance, vision and reaction time.

• Wear your life jacket – 85 percent of drowning victims nationwide were not wearing a life jacket.

• Take the online boating safety education course – Nationwide, 71 percent of deaths occurred on boats where the operator had not received boating safety instruction.