Summer safety includes coronavirus rules, but don't forget about other safety rules as well. | stock photo
Summer safety includes coronavirus rules, but don't forget about other safety rules as well. | stock photo
Rep. Jack O’Malley (R-Lake Ann) recently reminded Michiganders to exercise caution this summer, not only in regard to COVID-19 precautions, but through awareness of the dangers always present while enjoying summer activities.
In an address released on the Michigan House Republicans website, O’Malley said that Michiganders can be respectful of differing points of view while still taking precautions and following the rules that have been put into place.
“We do have to follow some rules, because we don’t want any type of recurrence -- or a big recurrence,” O’Malley said, according to Michigan House Republicans. “As people gather, the possibility of that rises.”
Rep. Jack O'Malley
| Michigan House Republicans
But following the rules transcends the current concerns across the nation, he said. Even as the summer boating season gets into full swing, O’Malley cited a recent event involving the U.S. Coast Guard, in which ten people were saved from a sinking boat in Grand Traverse Bay.
And that follows last summer, when the season turned deadly. “We had a lot of drownings, and that’s because of that high water,” he told Michigan House Republicans. “And we just need to be mindful.”
O’Malley said that both those visiting Michigan’s waterways and residents who use them frequently should practice caution. Having familiarity with the waters does not make anyone immune to a boating tragedy.
“Boats are dangerous things if not used properly,” O’Malley said, according to Michigan House Republicans. “Especially in my district, with as many lakes and lake shore, boater safety is huge.”
O’Malley said that people should have their personal flotation devices handy at all times. “Be prepared. Let people know where you’re going,” he suggested.
But drowning isn’t something that only happens far away from shore. “If you’re out on that big lake, especially, riptides can happen at a moment’s notice,” he told Michigan House Republicans. “You need to be careful.”
For parents with young children, O’Malley stressed the importance of keeping an eye on kids, even if they don’t seem to be venturing into deep water. “Like I said, last year, we had a lot of drownings,” he said. “Let’s make this summer safer.”
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