Lt. Gen. Thomas Bostick, Chief of Engineers, has made it no secret that one of his priorities is Water Safety. Just last March, the Corps of Engineers launched a new water safety campaign titled, “Life Jackets Worn, Nobody Mourns,” citing the extreme dangers of not wearing a life jacket in or on the water.
In New England, the District’s recreational facilities hold many water safety programs for the public throughout the year and Park Rangers will often take the Corps water safety message to schools and other events. Such was a case when West Hill Dam Park Rangers Viola Bramel and Ronald Woodall represented the District at the Annual Kids Family Resource Fair in Whitinsville, Massachusetts, on March 19. Over 1,300 people attended the event. West Hill Dam brought on the Water Safety message full force with a self-standing selfie water safety cut out display, kayaks and life jackets. Many of the attendees stopped by the Corps’ Water Safety exhibit to take pictures, sit in the kayaks and to get information about water safety. Bramel and Woodall also touched upon the “Every Kid in a Park” program as well as an introduction to the Corps and the Junior Ranger Program. Both Park Rangers were available to answer questions.
The Park Ranger’s commitment to Water Safety doesn’t stay at work. Woodall’s two children, son Tristyn 4, and daughter Rowan 2, were at the Fair and modeled life jackets and sat in kayaks to demonstrate proper water safety techniques. “Tristyn has been a big water safety advocate for years now,” said Woodall. “He will actively engage strangers and their kids at the beach and ask why they aren’t wearing life jackets!”
For more information on the Corps of Engineers’ Water Safety Program, go to http://watersafety.usace.army.mil.