BEAUMONT, Texas — Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer and it's expected to be the busiest one in more than a decade.
Many Southeast Texans will be hitting the beaches and lakes this summer to try and beat the heat. Whether it's boating or swimming, it's necessary to have fun safely.
Both swimming instructors and Texas Game Wardens say having a sober adult watch the water at all times is a must.
"The weather looks like it's going to be nice, pretty good this weekend," said Texas Game Warden Phillip Ledoux.
As Southeast Texans plan to go boating over Memorial Day weekend there are some things to keep in mind.
"Being intoxicated while operating a boat is treated the same as being intoxicated while operating a motor vehicle. And the charges are the same, the consequences are the same," Ledoux said.
Ledoux says people driving boats need to take extra precautions because of the current conditions.
"The water is historically high all across the Golden Triangle... there's gonna be tons of debris floating down the river. Trees, branches, lumber, pieces of damaged dock. Some of that stuff you can see some of it you can't," said Ledoux. "And then with the water being high the current is a lot stronger."
If you get caught in a current it's important to relax, reserve your energy and try to breath.
"You want to extend your feet out in front of you, and relax literally on your back and just let the current take you where it's going," said Healing Waters Aquatics founder D'Angelo Dorsey Thibodeaux. "In an open body of water, always have on a life jacket, no matter what."
Thibodeaux says to always a plan in place in case things go wrong.
"First of all you wanna go in a group, you want to have all safety equipment with you," he said.
He says that plan should also include rescue tubes and a U.S. Coast Guard approved life vest.
"You wanna have a good first aide kit with you. You need to have some kind of supervision as well, adult supervision," said
The Texas Game Warden says to make sure your boat has all the listed requirements, like a fire extinguisher and proper fitting life vest for everyone on the boat.