You should remember some important safety tips before you venture out boating on the water this Labor Day weekend. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the United States Coast Guard are reminding you to keep safety top of mind as you cast offshore. USCG Petty Officer Stephen Bell says wearing a life jacket and boating sober are two of the best ways to keep you and your family safer on the water. All children under the age of 13 must be wearing life preservers when they are onboard a boat.

Bell notes that the Coast Guard has noticed a lot of people bow-riding on boats, especially on pontoons, which can be very dangerous and has caused several accidents this summer. He says boaters should be aware of their surroundings and check the weather frequently for changing conditions. Alcohol use and poor decision-making are the two biggest contributing factors that lead to boating-related incidents. In Wisconsin, there have been 13 boating fatalities, with 12 of which were not wearing life jackets.