NC agencies launch campaign to highlight risks of drinking and boating ahead of Fourth of July

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and other law enforcement agencies are working to keep you safe while out on the water for the Fourth of July weekend.

On Tuesday, they launched their Operation Dry Water Campaign.

It aims to educate people on the dangers of drunk boating.

“It’s just as dangerous on the water as it is on the road,” said NCWRC officer Jake Thompson. “It can honestly affect you a little bit more because you’re out here on kind of an unsteady surface so that wobbling can cause alcohol to sneak up on you a little bit faster. You’re out in the sun, even though you’re in the water, a lot of people don’t think about it but you’re getting dehydrated a little bit faster.”

NCWRC officials say so far this year, they have had 37 boating incidents in the state, including seven of them being fatal.

Officers are also making sure boaters have proper safety equipment, including life jackets on board.

The organization says last year they had about 19 boating incidents that resulted in deaths, 17 of those involved people not wearing their life jackets.

“We’re also looking for what’s called a Type IV Throwable PFD, a lot of people may be familiar with it. It’s that square throwable of like a ring buoy, something you can sling out there pretty far, and on any gas powered vessel you have to have a fire extinguisher on board,” said Thompson.

During last year’s campaign, NC wildlife says they caught 40 people who were boating while impaired.

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