With spring officially underway and the weather already heating up, Colorado Parks and Wildlife rangers are warning Puebloans about the consequences of not wearing life jackets while on the water at Lake Pueblo State Park.

Water enthusiast suggest to buy a life jacket or PFD that is comfortable and fits well.

When buying a water safety device like a life jacket always be sure to check the sizes for kids or adults.

With spring officially underway and the weather already heating up, Colorado Parks and Wildlife rangers are warning Puebloans about the consequences of not wearing life jackets while on the water at Lake Pueblo State Park.

In 2025, the park received 3.6 million visitors, and 2026 is expected to be similar, said Erin Steinman, a ranger at Lake Pueblo State Park and CPW’s most recent Outstanding Ranger of the Year.

“We want everyone to have a safe visit to our park. Our current lake temperature is 44 degrees. We expect high visitation early in the season, but remember it takes water much longer to warm up than the air temperature,” Steinman said. “We’re here to remind everybody that life jackets save lives. Life jackets are important. They keep your airway above the water if you were to unexpectedly enter the water.”

While life jacket loaner stations are available at Lake Pueblo State Park, they should not be the primary safety plan, Steinman said.

“You should bring your own life jackets and parents and guardians should bring them for their kids,” she said.

CPW spokesperson Dean Miller emphasized the same point, noting that on busy weekends, the park may run out of life jackets to loan, and fiscally, the park may not be able to afford to replace life jackets that are taken and not returned consistently.

“We’re expecting really high visitation earlier in the year, partly due to the warmer temperatures we’ve seen throughout the winter months,” Steinman said.

Local temperatures were expected to reach a high of 95 degrees on March 21, with consistent 80-plus degree days throughout the next few weeks, driving traffic to the park and onto the lake unseasonably early, Steinman said.

With the water almost 50 degrees colder than the air, even a strong swimmer may succumb to cold water shock and drown if not wearing a life jacket, she said.

“Cold water shock can set in very quickly if someone were to enter the water. Even in our summer months, when the lake really starts to warm up, cold water shock can really affect a person if they enter the water,” Steinman said.

Along with wearing a life jacket, Steinman advised boaters that the weather on the lake can turn very quickly and unexpectedly.

“Some people out by themselves may end up in unexpected emergency conditions, and that’s why we want to emphasize the use of life jackets. Always have a life jacket with you and we really encourage people to wear their life jackets at all times,” she said.

Steinman also encouraged lake visitors to put life jackets on dogs and other pets if they go out on the water.

“But most importantly, make sure that you have a life jacket on everybody that’s on the boat,” she said.

While picking out a life jacket, ensure that the jacket fits properly and is U.S. Coast Guard approved, Steinman said. They also must be stored in a readily accessible manner on a boat, and anyone under the age of 13 must wear one at all times, according to Colorado law.

Other tips for staying safe on the water, according to CPW
Put a whistle on your jacket so you can call for help.
Be aware of your surroundings — the water gets deep quickly.
Be aware of the weather. High winds and storms can come up fast.
Check your boat and all required boating safety gear.
Avoid boating alone and tell someone where you are going and when you will return.
Boat sober. Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in recreational boating deaths.
Know that stand-up paddleboards are considered vessels in Colorado and require a life jacket on board at all times.
Protect yourself from the dangers of cold water immersion and shock. Regardless of your age or experience level, cold water can quickly create a drowning emergency.

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