Northwest Iowa — If you’re among the northwest Iowans hitting the water this 4th of July, the Iowa DNR reminds you to make sure your vessel is ready for the water.
DNR Conservation Officer Dustin Eighmy says now is the time to make sure your boat is ready to go.
Eighmy suggests boat operators, before they head out on a waterway, request a vessel safety check from a DNR officer.
U.S. Coast Guard statistics show 85-percent of all drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket. Eighmy says most boats should be equipped with other life saving floatation devices.
He says boat owners are also encouraged to make sure their registration is up to date.
There are roughly 235,000 registered boats in Iowa.
