Enjoying a holiday weekend boating on DeGray Lake can be a blast, and it normally is for thousands of lake visitors each year. But in order to enjoy any future holidays at the lake or anywhere else, officials are urging that those on or around the lake use extreme caution.
“You can’t say, ‘Hold on, accident — let me get my lifejacket on,” said Brian Westfall, natural resources specialist/park ranger for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “It don’t happen like that.”
Like motor vehicle accidents, boating accidents can happen in the blink of an eye; and operating a boat or watercraft takes great responsibility.
Though the Fourth of July holiday is generally the second most popular holiday for  DeGray, Westfall is predicting that upwards to 100,000 people will visit the lake this weekend. Memorial Day is typically the most popular holiday, but with recent flooding in May, the lake’s water levels were affected, and the Corps urged that visitors not visit the lake for safety reasons.
More than 835 million people visit Corps recreation years annually, and DeGray is the source of entertainment for 3 million people annually. A total of 10 million people visit DeGray, Ouachita and Greeson lakes each year.
With so many people using the lake, Westfall said it is important that everyone take proper precautions while on the lake. Using the “Five P’s,” Westfall said, “Prior planning prevents poor performance.”
The recreational season, he said, is “shaping up to be a deadly summer,” with the number of lake- or river-related deaths in the state already matching the total number of deaths in 2008. So far this year, 14 people have died as a result of an accident on the water in Arkansas.
So far this year, there have been no fatalities on DeGray, and the Corps is partnering with Entergy and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in a “blitz” to prevent any accidents or deaths. “One fatality is one too many for us. There are a lot of ways to get hurt, and it normally happens when you let your guard down.”
A 10-year-old Amity girl was fortunate, said Westfall, as she slipped out of her lifejacket while swimming near Alpine Ridge. She was under water for three minutes, but emergency personnel rescued and resuscitated the girl. She was flown by the AirEvac Life Team to a nearby hospital, and survived the accident. “That doesn’t happen very often.”
The last reported fatality at DeGray was in August, when a resident of the Arkadelphia Human Development Center drowned in Lower Lake.
“I want everyone to have a good time; but I want them to go home at the end of the day,” said Westfall, stressing the importance of being safe.

Boater’s fatigue

Just a couple of hours on the lake can cause “boater’s fatigue,” a condition in which the boat operator can no longer efficiently perceive depth or colors. The condition is a result of the sun’s rays reflecting off the lake and into the eyes, and the constant motion of the waves.
Boater’s fatigue can prevent the operator from seeing oncoming boats, possibly resulting in an accident.
To prevent this, Westfall urged there is always a designated boat operator on board so that the drivers can switch duties from time to time — as part of the Harbor Hero Program. Another tool to help prevent boater’s fatigue is wearing a good pair of polarized sunglasses.
Boaters should always make sure their designated boat operator is sober and legally able to drive a boat.
Westfall said tragedy strikes with boater’s fatigue when, after an entire day on the water, someone on the boat decides to have a swim. “When it’s late in the afternoon and you’ve been out on the lake all day, that’s when it happens,” he said, noting that the fatigue can affect one’s ability to swim.

Boating and alcohol

The Corps and AGFC will be patrolling lakes for reckless and/or drunk boaters. Anyone suspected of boating under the influence of alcohol will be stopped by the Corps, and possibly arrested by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, the Hot Spring County Sheriff’s Office or AGFC.
Alcohol also increases the effects of boater’s fatigue tenfold, Westfall said.
As with driving a motor vehicle, the same laws apply with operating watercraft. Anyone with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 is considered under the influence and unable to legally operate a boat or vehicle.
Children should not get on board a boat that is driven by someone under the influence.

Lifejackets:
‘Wear ‘em’

Like seatbelts in a motor vehicle, lifejackets are more often than not the key to living through an accident. “They are the best defense against drowning,” said Westfall. During his 24 years of experience as a park ranger, he said he has never recovered a drown victim who was wearing a lifejacket. About 94 percent of drown victims in the U.S. were not wearing a lifejacket, he said.
Arkansas law states that children 12 and younger must wear a properly fitting lifejacket while underway on any boat or watercraft. Also, state law requires that there be at least one lifejacket per person on board at all times.
The Corps and AGFC will be actively checking boaters to see that boaters are in compliance with state law. While the law may require that children 12 and under wear a lifejacket, Westfall strongly advises that everyone on a boat wear one while the boat is underway.
The Loan-a-Lifejacket program allows lake visitors to lend a lifejacket from any day use area. All that is asked is that the device is brought back at the end of the day.

The Corps teamed up with Entergy in a campaign to raise lifejacket awareness, purchasing billboard space on Highway 7 near the lake — a road that is traveled by up to 30,000 people per day.

The ‘Circle of Death’

A killswitch is a simple tool that responsible boaters wear in case of an accident. Attached to a latch on the boat operator’s clothes or lifejacket, the killswitch connects the operator to a switch that turns off the ignition and kills the boat’s momentum in the event that the driver is thrown from his or her seat.
It is almost always the case that, when the driver is thrown from the vessel, the flung driver bumps the steering wheel into one direction, or a lack of tension in the steering column causes the steering wheel to turn in one direction. This causes the boat to drive, unmanned, in one continuous circle, which gets smaller and smaller, eventually running over and either injuring or killing the boat operator and/or the passengers.

Water depth

DeGray Lake is one of the state’s deepest and clearest lakes. The depth near the dam is about 200 feet, while much of the river channel is at least 100 feet deep. The overall average depth of DeGray is 46 feet. While many anglers use depth to gauge where their next catch is, those driving speed boats or other recreational craft should use proper caution with the depth of the lake.
Since DeGray is a lake filled with underwater hills, boaters should use caution and pay close attention to buoys marked with a diamond. A diamond-marked buoy indicates that either a ridge, hilltop or other danger could lurk barely beneath the water’s surface. If a fast-moving water craft hits one of these geographical locations, it could permanently damage the watercraft or cause an accident.
Those swimming or wading at a location that is not marked for swimming could step into ankle-deep water one moment, then plunge into water that is 100 feet deep the next moment.
Swimmers at Day Use areas should respect the depth of the water and be careful when judging distance. If a beach ball, air mattress, swimming toy or water craft gets far away from the swimming area, call the Corps to get it. The Corps retrieves water toys and water craft. To have a Corps official get a toy or watercraft, find a park ranger in the area, and he or she will summon boat patrol for the retrieve. The Corps also offers boat towing for stranded boaters. If stranded, call 911. 
In the event that a toy or watercraft drifts too far away, Westfall urges to “let it go. You may get laughed at by your friends, but if you go out and try to retrieve it, there won’t be any laughing.”

Small boat, big danger

Westfall said the largest group that falls victim to water-related injury or death is those who have a small flatbottom boat with a small engine — or no engine at all.
“They think, ‘We’re not going to go very fast, so nothing will happen,’” Westfall said of the group’s excuse for not wearing life jackets. “The truth is that these types of watercraft are extremely unstable,” and putting an unstable boat on choppy water can create a hazard, especially when the watercraft is loaded with several people or camping or fishing gear. Choppy water can swamp or capsize a small boat, “and many times (those who use small watercraft) can’t swim.”

Sudden weather changes

“I’ve seen white caps as high as 6-7 feet on this lake,” Westfall said of windy conditions on DeGray. Because lakes are such large, empty spots with no windbreak, bad weather often literally comes out of the blue. High winds can cause choppy waves, which can in turn cause a boat to capsize or swamp due to splashing water gushing into the boat and sinking it. If a watercraft capsizes, the best thing to do is hold on to it until help arrives, said Westfall. “Cling to the craft, and signal if you can. Wait for help to arrive.”
Lightning is another cause for several lake deaths. A lake is a dangerous place to be when a lightning storm hits, he said. “If a storm comes up ... get off the water and onto a shoreline, and get low. If you can’t get out of the boat, get to the lowest point in the boat.

Other tips and facts

Never boat or swim alone. Always have a responsible, sober friend to accompany you.
To be legal and safe, always use navigation lights while boating at night. The red and green navigation light should be placed on the bow of the boat, and the 360-degree white light should be placed on the rear of the boat. Remember, navigation lights aren’t intended for you to see, but for other boaters to see you.
Make sure all passengers are seated in proper places. Do not allow them to sit on the gunwale or on the bow of the boat.
When traveling within 100 feet of a buoy that marks a swimming area or boat ramp, never travel more than 5 miles per hour. It is unsafe and illegal to travel any faster than idling speed near these places.
Steer clear of sailboats. Since sailboats are much harder to maneuver than normal watercraft, they have the right of way.
Families who choose to swim near their boat should find a remote location, and parents should make sure that all children wear lifejackets. Parents or guardians should also keep a close eye on all children, even those who are good swimmers. Young children are more likely to get a cramp while swimming.
When skiing or tubing, always have a passenger on board who is responsible for navigating and observing other watercraft from all sides of the craft. The navigator should make sure that no one runs over your boat and that your boat runs over no one. Navigators should always be 12 years old or older and sober.
Make sure to have everything needed for a safe and fun day on the lake (See “Boating Checklist, Page __”)
Take the AGFC Boater’s Education Course. The eight-hour course can be taken by instructor or online at www.agfc.com. The course, while required for boaters born after Jan. 1, 1986, is suggested for all ages. The class is free and teaches subjects like how to trailer a boat, the rules of boat navigation, night operation and other practical information on boating.
Unlike motor vehicles, boats don’t have brakes. Be sure to give yourself ample space and time to maneuver your vessel onto its trailer or dock.
The highest percentage of drown victims are those between 18-34 years of age. Westfall said this age group has the mindset of being “bulletproof. It’s not corny to wear a lifejacket or take a boating course. It’s common sense. It ensures you to fish or enjoy the lake another day.”
Any boating accident that results in damage exceeding $500 or any personal injury must be reported to AGFC. The agency’s phone number is 1-800-482-9262.