Capital Region officials talk boater safety

The beaches of Lake George in Warren County have brought several people to the area looking for relief from the hot weather. Whether it's swimming, jet skiing, or boating, they are all great ways to beat the heat. 

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The beaches of Lake George in Warren County have brought several people to the area looking for relief from the hot weather. Whether it's swimming, jet skiing, or boating, they are all great ways to beat the heat. 

As the weather is only getting warmer, the Warren County Sheriff’s Department is notifying people of proper safety measures that need to be followed when out on the water. 

Warren County Sheriff's Patrol Officer, Nick Maille, said it’s more than just life jackets that are required to properly equip your watercraft.

“We get boaters every year that we’ll stop and kind of educate a little bit, and we will just check and make sure they have all the right equipment, safety equipment that is required,” he said. 

To meet the U.S. Coast Guard safety requirements, several items are recommended when out in the water.

The U.S. Coast Guard recommends the following safety gear: 

• Personal flotation devices
• Air horn
• Fire extinguisher
• Flares
• Navigation rules 
• Noise making device
• Visual signal device

Officer Maille also suggests that those outside wear sunscreen and stay hydrated. 

“Sunscreen is huge, every time I'm out on here and we're out here for 12 hour shifts, I put on a lot of sunscreen,” he said. “You've got to take care of yourself and your body.”

Starting in January 2025, anyone born on or after 1978 wanting to operate a vehicle on the water is required to take a boaters safety course. It is also required to keep the certification with you on the vehicle while on the water. Officer Maille recommends keeping the certification on your person. 

“Put it in a water proof case, carry it with you in a bag, whatever you need to do," he said. A wallet, whatever you carry, but it does have to be on your person and needs to be shown to us to prove that the class has been completed,” he said.