Clay County officials said simple water safety practices on Dale Hollow Lake can help you avoid a late summer incident.
Clay County Emergency Management Director Kyle Haney said safety guidelines from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers encourage smarter decision-making on the water. Haney said the initiative aims to ensure that everyone utilizing the county’s natural resources can return home safely after their visit.
“We want everyone to come and enjoy Dale Hollow Lake and make memories with their friends and families, but we want them to return home safely,” Haney said. “And just reminders that wearing a life jacket, staying sober, and making smart decisions on the water can make the difference.”
Haney said the lake demands respect because any situation can quickly escalate into a life-taking tragedy. Haney said that while life jackets can be uncomfortable, they remain the most effective tool for preventing drownings.
“It’s a fun, you can make it as fun as you want to make it on the lake, but we just ask that everyone just stay safe,” Haney said. “Anything can quickly turn into a life-taking tragedy out there on the lake, so we just want people to be safe and just use basic safety precautions.”
Haney said Clay County typically records one or two drownings every year on the Dale Hollow Lake side of the county. Haney said officials are utilizing social media to reach people while they are scrolling in hopes they will adopt necessary precautions.
“Drowning can happen to anybody regardless of their age or their swimming ability, whether it be fatigue, some medical emergencies or injuries, and those can overwhelm experienced swimmers,” Haney said. “And just we just want people to never assume that being a good swimmer is enough protection.”
Haney said alcohol consumption is a major factor in water emergencies because it impairs judgment and reaction time. Haney said people often misunderstand the physical signs of drowning, sometimes mistaking a person flailing their hands for help as someone simply waving to a passing boat.
“Some of the signs out there, it may be like someone’s just floating or trying to wave down someone to come pick them up on a boat, and when they’re actually flailing their hands to try to get some attention for someone to come help them,” Haney said.
Haney said anyone witnessing an emergency should immediately call 911 and attempt to get a flotation device to the person in distress. Haney said it is vital for boaters to know their exact location using a map, as cell phone service is often scarce on the lake.
“Our local TWRA officers are heavily patrolling the lake, especially during the boating season and the swimming season,” Haney said. “So first of all, call 911. And if you don’t have a life jacket or if they’re not, they don’t have a flotation device, just immediately try to get one to them and pull them onto a safe area, a safe, stable area, whether it be the boat or get them to a rock.”
Haney said children require constant supervision because they often want to remove life jackets that they feel interfere with their swimming. Haney said children can become fatigued much faster than adults, making the flotation devices essential.
