What the Sheriff Wants You to Know Before You Celebrate Independence Day

The Fourth of July holiday is typically the busiest time of the year for lakes, rivers, and swimming pools across Hennepin County—particularly on Lake Minnetonka. During the holiday, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office is urging people to stay safe while enjoying water-related recreation such as boating and swimming.

Create a safety plan in advance and review the rules with your family members. Take time to create a safety plan prior to boating or swimming and have any needed safety equipment, such as life jackets, ready to go. Parents need to maintain visual contact with their children who are in the water—or near the water.

If a child is missing, please check any nearby area of water first. Drowning or serious brain injury happens quickly—often in a matter of minutes.  If anyone fails to re-surface from the water or any person is struggling in the water—please call 911 immediately.

Safety reminders for boating:

Boaters should slow down and make an extra effort to act in a courteous manner on crowded lakes and rivers.  

Designate a sober boat operator prior to your day of boating.

State law requires that children under age 10 must wear a life jacket while the boat is underway. It is highly recommended that all children wear life jackets during boating.

State law requires that life jackets are readily accessible for all people on board the boat—80 percent of boating deaths could have been prevented if the victims had been wearing life jackets. (U.S. Coast Guard estimate)

Be aware of boat propellers. People re-entering the boat have been injured by propellers.

Safety reminders for swimming:

Watch your kids.

In 70 percent of cases where young children drowned, one or both parents were nearby. Being nearby isn’t enough. Parents must avoid distractions such as using cell phones or talking with other adults.

Parent supervision is needed even when there are lifeguards on duty.

Wear a lifejacket.

Weak swimmers or non-swimmers may wear life jackets in lakes, swimming pools, and any body of water.  Adult supervision is still needed.

Do not rely on water wings or other inflatable devices.

Learn to swim. Kids and adults must know how to swim in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Learn about safety equipment—keep a shepherd’s hook near a pool for rescues. 

Learn about safety precautions for residential and backyard kiddie pools.

Learn CPR and learn more about water safety.