Being prepared will help you return to shore safely and give your loved ones peace of mind when you go boating. Door County emergency personnel answered five water rescue calls over the weekend, covering Baileys Harbor, Jacksonport, Sturgeon Bay, and two on Washington Island. Safety concerns are growing across the state, especially after one lake in the Town of Oconomowoc experienced two deaths in four days. Justin MacDonald, the fire chief of Egg Harbor and Ephraim, is happy when they encounter boaters in distress that they are often wearing a lifejacket, which was the case during last weekend’s water rescue in Baileys Harbor. He advises boaters to take other precautions in mind when they head out onto the water that can keep everyone’s minds at ease.

MacDonald advises boaters to look at the weather report before heading out onto the water. According to the DNR, there have been a dozen boating deaths this year after hitting a high-water mark of 25 last year. There were just nine such deaths in 2019.