Aug 30, 2024 · Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department

[PRESS RELEASE] New Mexico State Parks reminds visitors to celebrate safely this Labor Day weekend

Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor

Melanie A. Kenderdine , Cabinet Secretary Designate

Ben Shelton, Acting Deputy Cabinet Secretary

Toby Velasquez, State Parks Division Director

Contact:

Wendy Mason

Marketing & Public Relations Manager

NM State Parks Division

wendy.mason@emnrd.nm.gov

505-819-1785

Sidney Hill

Public Information Officer, EMNRD

sidney.hill@emnrd.nm.gov

505-629-2900

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

August 30, 2024

New Mexico State Parks reminds visitors to celebrate safely this Labor Day weekend

Life jackets save lives. Wear them! Chalecos Salvavidas Salvan Vidas, Úsalos!

SANTA FE, NM – This Labor Day Weekend thousands of people will be traveling to one or more of YOUR New Mexico State Parks to soak up the last sun-filled days of summer and cool off in our state’s many waterways. Whether you’re boating, paddling, tubing, or swimming, remember -- wearing a properly fitted life jacket can save a life!

“Lakes and rivers have unseen dangers that can cause drownings. Water currents can sweep swimmers away and tire them out, water depth can suddenly change, and underwater hazards can trap you,” said Director Toby Velasquez. “Wearing a life jacket is a reliable way to prevent these hazards from turning a fun and memorable day into a tragic one. The main purpose of a life jacket is to prevent drowning, provide the opportunity to self-rescue, or to give a person time to be rescued.”

In 2023, according to the U.S. Coast Guard, 87% of drowning victims in recreational boating accidents were not wearing life jackets. The U.S. Coast Guard estimates that life jackets could have saved the lives of more than 80% of people who die while boating. These statistics highlight the importance of wearing life jackets and the need for ongoing efforts to promote their use to save lives on the water.

State law requires motorboat operators born on or after January 1, 1989, to take and pass a boating safety education course. The course certificate is good for life and meets the requirements for boating safety education in many other states. It can also save you money on your boat insurance! Courses are available online anytime at emnrd.nm.gov , and New Mexico State Parks offers free in-person classes statewide.

Don’t have a life jacket? Ask our Park Rangers about our life jacket loaner program before taking the plunge! For more information, go to emnrd.nm.gov and click on the Boating in New Mexico tab. Your 35 New Mexico State Parks can be found in 25 of 33 counties. Book your trip up to six months in advance through reserveamerica.com today!

Rangers patrolling Eagle Nest Lake. Photo: NM State Parks.

Photos: National Safe Boating Council.

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New Mexico State Parks is a division of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department . Our mission is to protect and enhance natural and cultural resources, provide first-class recreational and education facilities and opportunities, and promote public safety to benefit and enrich the lives of visitors.

Sincerely,

Wendy Mason

Marketing & Public Relations Manager

Records Custodian

New Mexixo State Parks Division

Energy, Minerals & Natural Resources Department

1220 S. St Francis Dr. | Santa Fe, NM 87505

Email: wendy.mason@emnrd.nm.gov | Web: www.emnrd.nm.gov

PH 505-819-1785 (c) | Toll Free 888-667-2757

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