Tyngsborough Police Department Offers Water Safety Tips

TYNGSBOROUGH — As spring weather brings sunnier days and warmer temperatures, Chief Richard D. Howe and the Tyngsborough Police Department wish to remind residents to remain safe and responsible when visiting lakes, ponds, and other bodies of water.

“As warmer weather arrives people will be excited to be boating, kayaking, and canoeing, or to begin opening their pools for the season,” Chief Howe said. “But bodies of water can be extremely dangerous if you aren’t acting responsibly, and we urge all residents to follow these safety tips. We responded to a serious crash last year involving personal watercraft on Lake Mascuppic, and we will be patrolling Lake Mascuppic this year to ensure that all boaters are obeying safety laws and appropriate regulations.”

The Town of Tyngsboro is home to three large bodies of water:

• The Merrimack River is a popular spot for canoeing, kayaking, rowing, and power boating. The river provides quickwater and flatwater for canoeists and kayakers and is one of the largest surface water bodies in the region for power boating. 
• Lake Mascuppic, located in Tyngsborough with a Massachusetts state boat ramp in Dracut, sees heavy boat traffic in the summer. The Town Beach at Lake Mascuppic is popular for swimming and boating.
• Massapoag Pond, located off Massapoag Road, is heavily utilized for boating, fishing, and swimming.

To ensure everyone’s safety in the water this summer, the Tyngsborough Police Department would like to remind residents of the following safety tips for kayakers, paddlers, recreational boaters and those using personal watercraft courtesy of the American Canoe Association:

• Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when boating or fishing, even if you don’t intend to enter the water.
• Children under the age of 12 must always wear a life jacket in a public body of water.
• Be a competent swimmer with the ability to handle oneself underwater, moving water, surf, or current. Keep the craft under control. Do not enter a rapid unless you are reasonably sure you can navigate it or swim the entire rapid in case you capsize.
• Keep a lookout for hazards and avoid them. Watch for fog, especially on coastal waters.
• Group members need to constantly assess the behavior of others in their group.
• Never drink alcohol while operating a vessel.       
• Take a boating safety course and ensure you are comfortable using your vessel.
• Drive at the appropriate speed and follow navigation rules. Do not speed.        
• Always proceed with caution. Operating a boat is a serious responsibility.

For those swimming in lakes, ponds or pools, the Tyngsborough Police Department also provides the following safety tips from the American Red Cross:

• Never leave children unattended while they are near or in a body of water, and make sure they have an adult to accompany them into the water. Young or inexperienced swimmers should always wear a life jacket or inflatable arm floats.
• Never swim alone; swim with lifeguards and/or water watchers present. Even if lifeguards are present, you (or another responsible adult) should stay with your children.
• If a child is missing, always check the body of water that they were near or swimming in first.
• Understand and adjust for the unique risks of the water environment you are in, such as river currents, underwater hazards including vegetation and animals, and more.
• Don’t use alcohol or drugs (including certain prescription medications) before or during swimming or diving, or while supervising swimmers.
• Recognize the signs of someone in trouble and shout for help. A swimmer needs immediate help if they:
  • Are not making forward progress in the water.
  • Are vertical in the water but unable to move or tread water.
  • Are motionless and face down in the water.
• If someone is drowning or experiencing an emergency in the water:
  • Rescue and remove the person from the water (without putting yourself in danger).
  • Ask someone to call emergency medical services (EMS). If alone, give 2 minutes of care, then call EMS.
  • Begin CPR.
  • Use an AED if available and transfer care to advanced life support.
• Take a CPR course for adults and children to be prepared if an emergency occurs. Update skills regularly.