You know those foam "noodles" and plastic inflatable inner tubes you see in backyard pools: leave them home when you head for Lake Mead National Recreation Area, where officials are concerned about the number of drownings associated with those items.
Lake Mead staff don't want to see those pool toys in the park this Labor Day Weekend. The ban against such items includes inflatable armbands (also known as water wings), and beach balls.
Water-based recreation items used for attaching to or towing behind a vessel are not included in this prohibition. Additionally, inflatable kayaks, paddle boards, kite boards, and float tubes that fall under the United States Coast Guard definition of a vessel are not included in this prohibition. While recreating on these vessels and on water-based recreation items attached to or towed behind a vessel, visitors are required to wear a USCG approved personal floatation devices, also known as life vest or jackets.
Inflatable pool toys are not USCG-approved flotation devices, can give visitors a false sense of security, and often have explicit warnings that they are not intended for use in lakes or open bodies of water. Use of pool toys have led to numerous drownings and “near-misses” on both Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, according to park staff.
Visitors with pool toys often do not wear life jackets, believing that their inflatable toy will keep them safe. Over the past seven years there have been nine drowning fatalities directly attributed to adults and children attempting to use pool toys as floatation devices or attempting to swim after pool toys that were taken by the wind into deeper, choppy water.
“Due to the numerous drownings and rescue operations required, inflatable pool toys are now prohibited at Lake Mead National Recreation Area,” said acting Superintendent Randy LaVasseur. “Leave them in the pool where they belong. The weather conditions at Lake Mead can change quickly, putting visitors' lives in danger. The safety and health of National Park Service employees, visitors, partners, volunteers, and resources is our top priority.”
The USCG-approved personal floatation devices are designed to preserve lives and are approved for use at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
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Comments
This is the dumbest thing ever. Who cares. Why not ban idiots from lake mead? Or alcohol, or gas operated vehicles from the recreation area. Just shut it down completely so no one ever gets hurt.
Ridiculous. People can choose their own recreation devices. This is America. Enough with all the rules rules rules. Let people enjoy themselves. Maybe ban alcoholics. That we would solve far more issues
Start arresting people on water for drinking and driving a boat
It's coming
What is wrong with people?? The rule was made because people are drowning on these things...follow rules or don't use the lake.
My 19 year old son drowned 4th of July weekend trying to get a pool float that had gone back out into the water. The current pulled him under so fast he only cried for help once, and was never seen alive again. They found him 65 feet under and only 25 yards from the shore at Placer Cove, and he was an EXCELLENT swimmer and in great shape. These comments from people are disgusting, and remind me that people only really care about themselves and not infringing on their fun! Disgusting! No wonder this country is going down the drain!!
Policy discussions are best held absent emotion. It is always sad to hear of a visitor being seriously injured or perishing while enjoying the Parks.
Recreating in the Great Outdoors has always and will always carry a certain level of risk. Despite the tendancies of too many elected officials and career bureaucrats, Americans do not desire a nanny state. I don't want handrails on my hiking trails. I don't seek wilderness absent bears. Lake Mead is not a pool. You cannot manage it like one. What next, no toys at the beach of a National Seashore?
We should as a society reject the principle of safetyism that postulates that if somehting is not 100% safe, it is unacceptably dangerous. For a fuller understanding, read Coddling of the American Mind.
so maybe the answer is to wear live vests...and ancor rafts...AND MAYBE ADULT SUPERVISION....