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The district needs the public’s help to reduce the number of fatalities at the 10 USACE-managed lakes and projects on the Cumberland River. USACE rangers stress the importance of water safety year-round when talking with visitors, but especially during the summer season when most public recreation fatalities occur.

“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wants all visitors to USACE recreation areas this summer to have a wonderful and safe experience, especially if your activities involve water,� Maj. Gen. Jason E. Kelly, USACE deputy commanding general for civil and emergency operations, said. “Take appropriate precautions, wear a life jacket and recreate responsibly so you can safely return home at the end of the day.�

People of all ages are strongly encouraged to practice water safety this summer. Before entering or being around open water (lakes, rivers, ponds, etc.), keep these things in mind — they could save your life or the life of someone you care about.

Wear a life jacket — By providing time to be rescued, it will help ensure you survive an unexpected fall into the water. It can also save your life if you become exhausted due to fatigue, waves or current while swimming. An adult can drown in 60 seconds.

While boating, if you are not wearing a life jacket when an accident occurs and you unexpectedly enter the water, you will not have time to access a life jacket to save your life if needed. Please wear a life jacket and ask others to wear theirs too.

Wear Engine Cutoff Device While Boating — If thrown out of a boat, there is always the danger of being struck by a spinning propeller, especially since an unoccupied boat can often start traveling in circles after the operator is ejected. Wearing an engine cut-off switch lanyard or electronic fob immediately stops the engine after ejection so that the operator can regain control of the boat.

Know your swimming abilities — Be aware that swimming in open water is different from swimming in a pool, and your swimming ability decreases with age. It is never too late to take swimming lessons and learn to swim well. Several people every year drown while swimming to retrieve boats, hats and toys. Let those things go because they are not worth losing your life over.

Alcohol and water are a deadly combination — Alcohol induces an inner ear condition (caloric labyrinthitis) that can cause you to become disoriented when underwater and not realize which way is up. If you jump or fall in the water, you can become disoriented and swim down instead of up to safety, causing you to drown. This is more likely to happen if you have been consuming alcohol.

Watch Your Children — Constantly supervise your children whenever they’re in, on or near open water. Always keep them within arm’s reach. To keep them safe keep yourself safe by ensuring you and they wear properly fitted life jackets whenever enjoying your favorite outdoor water recreational activity.

Air Temperature and Water Temperature are not the same — The water temperature in rivers and lakes can be significantly colder than the air temperature and jumping or falling into cold water can be a dangerous shock to your body, so it’s important to wear a properly fitted life jacket to increase your chances of survival.

Keep in mind that although the air temperatures are rising, water temperatures are slow to rise, and some lakes and rivers have cold water temperatures year-round.

Learn more water safety tips by visiting and following Please Wear It on Facebook and Instagram.

The Nashville District operates Lake Barkley, Lake Cumberland, Laurel River Lake and Martins Fork Lake in Kentucky; Cheatham Lake, J. Percy Priest Lake, Old Hickory Lake, Cordell Hull Lake and Center Hill Lake in Tennessee; and Dale Hollow Lake in both Kentucky and Tennessee.

The district also manages the Cumberland River and its tributaries, balancing the demands for water releases to flood risk management, commercial navigation, production of hydropower, recreation, fish and wildlife, water supply and water quality.