With the nicer weather, many will be preparing to get out on the water.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer for Guthrie County Jeremy King says that for those with boats, there are some important things to remember, the first of which is to make sure that their vessels are properly registered. He adds that safety is another concern to keep in mind.

“The other big issue we run into is fire extinguishers. A lot of fire extinguishers aren’t made to take the repetitive beating of waves and boats. So they will lose their charge and seals will break more frequently than they would as one sitting at home or in a vehicle somewhere. So I tell people every year, two to three times throughout the year, check to make sure your gauge says it’s still on the green and it’s ready to go.”

King mentions another way to check some extinguishers is a small button on the top. If the bottom is pushed down and comes back up, there is still pressure, but if it doesn’t, the extinguisher has lost its charge. He adds that the other part of safety is to keep properly stocked with life jackets and other floatation devices.

King explains that life jackets need to be readily available, meaning out of whatever packaging they came in, and ready to be worn. There must also be as many jackets as passengers the vessel can hold. He advises that for every eight passengers, there must also be a type four throwable, which can be a square flotation device, or a ring, as long as it is Coast Guard approved.