Maricopa County officials urge life jacket use, promote loaner program at Lake Pleasant
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Summary
County officials and partner agencies held a press conference at Lake Pleasant urging life jacket use, describing recent drownings and search-and-rescue calls, and highlighting a life-jacket loaner program and boating education options.
Maricopa County officials and partner agencies held a lake and trail safety press conference at Lake Pleasant to urge life jacket use and promote a life-jacket loaner program, after speakers noted 16 drownings in Maricopa County last year and 144 search-and-rescue calls involving the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
The O'Connors, longtime Lake Pleasant visitors, described both the appeal of the lake and dangerous incidents they have witnessed. “They've encountered some scary situations out on the water,” Ronald and Teresa O'Connor said, and one of the O'Connors added that “there's been 3 times when I've had to help people out of the water.”
The press conference brought together Chairman Thomas Galvin, Maricopa County Parks and Recreation, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and Arizona Game and Fish to emphasize preventative steps. “We have powerboat courses. They are classroom-only, not hands-on, but it's education, boating safety education. We have online options, including a Spanish online version. We have in-person boating education classes here at the Discovery Center once a month,” said Josh Hoffman of Arizona Game and Fish.
Jennifer Waller, parks director, noted Memorial Day and high visitor numbers at Lake Pleasant, saying attendees should take basic precautions. “Wear the life jacket and come out here with friends and have a good time,” Waller said.
Speakers highlighted specific precautions for both water and trail users: supervise children, avoid alcohol when operating boats, check heat and hydration needs before outdoor activity, research trails and avoid hiking alone, and tell friends or family your plans. Officials also pointed to a life jacket loaner program at the park as an option for visitors who do not bring their own personal flotation devices.
The event combined personal testimony from residents, public-safety data cited at the briefing and descriptions of available education and equipment programs. No formal policy or regulatory action was proposed or taken at the press conference; organizers described outreach and education measures and encouraged voluntary compliance by recreation users.
Organizers said boating education and life jacket programs are intended to reduce preventable drownings and ease demands on search-and-rescue responders; they did not announce new funding, ordinances or enforcement changes at the event.
