JOHNSTON, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Johnston-Grimes Metropolitan Fire Department and Polk County Health Department will be available on Wednesday, May 22 at 10 a.m. at the Lakeview Boat Ramp, located off NW Beaver Drive to provide water safety tips for Iowans heading into the Memorial Day weekend.
WHEN: Wednesday, May 22, 2019
TIME: 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: Lakeview Boat Ramp, located off NW Beaver Drive in Johnston
WHO: Johnston-Grimes Metropolitan Fire Department, Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Polk County Health Department Subject matter experts will be available to answer questions related to the following items.
Iowa DNR Susan Stocker, Boating Law Admin/Education Coordinator, Dustin Eighmy, DNR Conservation Officer and Dan Kendall, DNR Beach Monitoring Program
- Avoiding alcohol while boating
- Effects of heat, sun exposure and reaction times
- Minimum age for children that have to wear a life jacket when the vessel is underway
- Life jacket demonstrations
- Age requirements for boat operation
- Boater education courses/certifications
- Boat accidents/reporting
- Unlawful operation
- Paddle sports and the awareness needed
- Beach water monitoring program and reporting/notification
Johnston-Grimes Metropolitan Fire Department Fire Chief Jim Clark and Lieutenant Tristan Johnson
- Having a way to call for help in the event of an emergency
- Steps to take and provide emergency crews if someone goes under water
- Maintaining situational awareness while on the water
- Response capabilities and emergency response teams responding
- Importance of wearing of a life jacket at all times
Polk County Health Department Nola Aigner, Health Educator/Public Information Officer
- Drowning prevention (approximately 4,000 deaths each year, is a leading cause of injury death among children ages 1–4 years)
- Reducing Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs)
- Avoiding water that contains harmful algal blooms and health dangers