Troopers encourage safety on lakes this Labor Day

TULSA - It's a message the lake patrol wants you to remember---wear a life vest.

"If you have a boating accident and you don't have your life jacket on, chances of you surviving is slim to none," says Trooper Ricky Humdy.

The Wasson family says they're here to go fishing. First thing they do is strap theirs on.

"Anytime you're on the lake, you gotta be safe," Britt Wasson says.

Officials say kids 13 years old and younger are required by law to wear a life jacket. Patrol units go around inspecting boats for this, as well as other things.

"I inspect for life jackets, throwables, if they have a motor of fire extinguisher," says Humdy.

Officials say out of ten boats they inspect, four do not have those safety items. Wasson says he's glad troopers are out there working hard to keep his family safe.

"Anywhere there's going to be knuckleheads so pull them over and check them out. Anybody that doesn't have extra life vests probably doesn't need to have a boat," he says.

Local officials say of the 14 people who drowned this year in Tulsa area lakes, 12 have been men. Tylyn Bergan says she has her own theory on why that's the case.

"Men are more reckless than women," she says.

But as officials say, anybody can drown. Most people out on the lake say that's not how they want to see their holiday weekend come to an end.

"Just have fun and get life vests on everybody, you know, big guys sink too so get everybody safe," says Wasson.

Officials say the biggest cause for boating accidents and drowning is alcohol or drug use. They ask people to remember not to engage in those activities if they are going to be in the water.