While people may be tempted to take advantage of the unusually warm weather to get a head start on river recreational activities, many seasonal safety signs and other safety measures are not yet in place for New York State boaters.
Extreme caution should be used when recreating on or near rivers, warns Brookfield Renewable Energy Group, which operates hydropower facilities in the area.
Brookfield’s Julie Smith-Galvin said her company has accelerated installation of boat barriers and safety systems typically installed in late spring.
“We ask the public to respect closed recreation access,” she said. “Be vigilant about safety by avoiding dams and structures such as powerhouses and substations, and by observing all signage, warning signals, and sirens.”Additionally Smith-Galvin urges boaters to observe “Wear It!,” a water safety campaign of New York State Parks.
“(We) encourage everyone to take personal responsibility for safety and wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when recreating on or near water any time of year,” she said.
Since New York’s waterways are cold year-round, boaters should also be aware of hypothermia.
The condition can adversely affect people stranded in water even for short periods, and can result in drowning.
The National Safe Boating Council recommends the “1-10- 1” approach in fighting hypothermia. Specifically, use the first minute to get breathing under control.
Then the person in water will have 10 minutes of meaningful movement, and one hour before falling unconscious.
The 1-10-1 approach will only work if you are wearing a life jacket to help keep your head up, according to the NSBC.
Brookfield Renewable Energy Group operates hydropower facilities on 15 rivers in New York State, including the Upper Hudson, Raquette and Salmon Rivers.
