Tips, tricks and laws: Colorado guide to staying safe on the water this summer

Tips, tricks and laws: Colorado guide to staying safe on the water this summer
Summer is still five days away, but the weather is heating up in Colorado, with near-record temperatures in the Denver area.

With warm weather comes an increase in boaters, paddleboarders and kayakers taking to Colorado’s lakes and reservoirs. Here’s how to stay safe and follow the rules to make the most of your time on the water.

Afternoons and severe weather

Weather is one of the biggest unknowns people need to be wary of, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Grant Brown. People can control if they’re wearing life jackets and if they have the proper equipment. They can’t control the weather.

“When we see weather events or wind events, that’s usually when see when we see more water-related incidents and rescues,” Brown said.

During Friday’s wave of afternoon thunderstorms, Parks and Wildlife officers rescued a person trapped on the water of Chatfield State Park as hail came through the area.

Severe weather Friday also called off the search for a teenager who went missing in the Arkansas River in Otero County on Wednesday morning.

“Storms usually come in during the afternoon, and people need to be mindful of the clouds and storms moving in their direction,” Brown said. “Wind is a big deal.”

Strong winds easily can separate a paddleboarder or kayaker from their watercraft, Brown said. If they aren’t wearing a life jacket, that can put them at risk.

“Sometimes people just don’t have the awareness of these storms, and … they may be underestimating the weather,” Brown said. “People don’t realize how quickly our weather can change in Colorado, and they overestimate their ability to handle it.”

South Metro Fire Rescue spokesperson Brian Willie said other factors can add to the danger of being on the water in the afternoon.

“Weather always plays a factor, no matter what, but it’s also because you’ve been in the water all day and you get more complacent to what’s going on” Willie said. “You’re just like ‘Oh, I’m OK. I can go in.’ We see a lot more incidents later in the afternoon, but whether it’s weather or just the way the day goes, we can’t say for sure.”

It’s important that people keep an eye on the weather, check their local weather source and look at the forecast before getting on the water. But people also need to make sure they’re paying attention to time, Willie said.

“You need to be ready to get off the water at the right and appropriate time and also give yourself enough time to get back to shore from wherever you may be,” Willie said. “The weather can really change in an instant here. Especially in the Chatfield State Park area, the way the weather changes there comes off the foothills with some good downdrafts that really can affect paddleboarders and kayakers and any form of water toy on the reservoir.”

Cold water risks

Colorado’s lakes and reservoirs are notoriously cold, rarely hitting 70 degrees at any point in the summer — especially at higher elevations, Brown said. Bodies of water that do breach 70 degrees are confined to lower elevation areas in late July and August.

“The biggest thing in Colorado in particular is the danger of cold water immersion,” Brown said. “Anything under 70 degrees is considered cold water.”

Hitting cold water unexpectedly — such as when a person is knocked off of their boat or paddleboard — can cause people to gasp involuntarily, take in water and panic, Brown said.

“Then if you’re trying to get to your life jacket, you’re having to do that through panic,” he said. “Cold water can also cause cramps. You hit the water and try to swim vigorously, and people get arm and leg cramps, which make difficult to swim.”

Brown said that people’s first assumption when they hear about a drowning is that the person couldn’t swim, but it’s often incorrect.

“You’re a good swimmer when you’re expecting to swim,” he said. “Natural bodies of water are unique. And even when people are good swimmers, you just never know what happens to them in those few seconds where they hit the water. Did they hit their head? Did they take in water? Did they cramp?”

Even with the risk of hypothermia, if boaters have a life jacket on when they hit the water, they greatly increase their chance of survival, he said.

Using the buddy system

Part of staying safe is establishing a water watcher, according to Willie.

“A water watcher is designated to pay attention to those in the water — not being distracted on their phone, reading a book or having conversations with people who aren’t there, but watching those in the water and being prepared to call for help if something goes wrong,” Willie said.

Another option is boating with a friend.

“That way, you know if you get into trouble, you have a friend that can be there to help or at least call and let people know,” Brown said. “And if you’re paddling by yourself, it’s important to file a float plan.”

That is a plan letting someone know where you’re going, what time you’re launching and what time you expect to be back so they can alert authorities if you don’t check in.

Life jacket laws and regulations

Not having a life jacket in Colorado is not only dangerous, it’s illegal.

“It’s not only important to have one with you, it’s important to be prepared and have it on you,” Willie said.

Each boat must contain one life vest per person, Brown said. Kids 12 years old and younger have to be physically wearing the life jackets, and breaking the rules could mean facing a $100 fine per person.

In Colorado, a boat doesn’t just mean a sailboat or motorboat, it also includes kayaks, paddleboards, canoes and so forth, Brown said. That means all laws that apply to motorboats apply to everyone on watercraft, including alcohol limits.

“One of the contributing factors we see commonly with fatalities is alcohol or drugs,” Brown said. “Inhibitions go out the window … and it contributes to your inability to swim and make the right decisions when you’re in an emergent situation.”

In Colorado, it’s completely legal to drink and drive a boat — or paddleboard — up to the legal blood alcohol content limit of 0.08.

“That’s what makes it tricky,” Brown said. “It’s not inherent — it’s not illegal to have a drink and operate a boat. You have to be mindful of how much you’re taking in so you don’t hit that limit.”

Safety courses

To prepare for a season on the water, Brown recommended taking a boating safety course.

As of June 1, teenagers between 14 and 18 years old must pass a boating safety course to operate a motorboat or any personal watercraft in Colorado, according to Parks and Wildlife. The course is offered throughout the state and is open to adults as well as teens.

“Even though it’s only required for people under 18, we encourage everyone to take a course,” Brown said.

Colorado also offers web-based boat safety classes through BoatEd, BoaterExam and BoatU.S. where teenagers and adults can learn about boat safety laws and regulations, navigation rules and paddling.

South Metro Fire Rescue offers courses on CPR and basic first-aid skills. Effective CPR can double or even triple a victim’s chance of survival, according to the fire department.

“Being able to do CPR immediately is going to help save a life until trained professionals can arrive,” Willie said.

Ultimately, it comes down to how much people are willing to learn and respect the water, Brown said.

“I’m out paddleboarding right now,” Brown said. “It’s a great activity, and we don’t want to scare anyone off. Enjoy the water, but respect it — take the guesswork out of it and wear a lifejacket.”