Army Corps warns most water-related accidents, fatalities occur in July

Jul. 23—WILKES-BARRE — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reminding the public that more water-related accidents and fatalities occur at its lakes and river projects in July than in any other month.

"July is the month when we normally see the most water-related accidents and fatalities so there is reason to be concerned," said Pam Doty, USACE National Water Safety Program Manager. "We stress to the recreating public a number of things to be aware of while in, on, or near open water."

"Park rangers and other staff at our lakes and river projects will be especially vigilant this time of year in looking for and cautioning the public about risky behaviors," added Doty.

USACE wants you to be aware of these things while in, on, or near open water (lakes, rivers, ponds, etc.):

Most adults who drown in open water knew how to swim and exceeded or overestimated their swimming abilities. People normally learn to swim in a pool where they can easily reach the sides or push off the bottom when they need to take a break. There are no sides to grab onto in open water and the bottom can be several feet below you, which can make taking a break and relaxing hard to do unless you are wearing a life jacket.

When swimming or wading along a shoreline there might be a deep drop-off just a few feet away. Drop-offs might be more than 100 feet deep at some lakes. Swimming in a protected area, such as a cove or around a boat, might seem safer, but even in those situations you can become exhausted. Boats tend to drift away and people misjudge distances like how far it is to the shoreline.

Sometimes people who become exhausted while swimming or overestimate their swimming ability never learned proper swimming breath techniques. Holding your breath too long while swimming or over-breathing by taking several deep breaths in a row (hyperventilating) before a swim can cause shallow-water blackout. Shallow-water blackout causes people to faint or blackout in the water and drown. A simple description of what makes that happen is that it's the result of low oxygen to your brain. Shallow-water blackout often happens to people who know how to swim well because they deny their body's desire to inhale for too long. Once someone loses consciousness water enters the lungs, causing them to drown.

Some adults are hesitant to tell their friends that they cannot swim well. In a pool they can get away with that mentality easier than they can in open water. In open water even strong swimmers can become exhausted and drown. Also, if you don't often swim your swimming ability will decrease the older you get. Some people may know how to float, but they don't think about survival floating when they panic. Wave action and currents also make it difficult to float in open water.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is something to be aware of when boating and swimming or floating around boats. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas. Sources of carbon monoxide on your boat may include engines, gas generators, cooking ranges, and space and water heaters. Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include eye irritation, headache, nausea, weakness, and dizziness. Knowing these signs and what to do to prevent them can help you stay alive. Install or use a properly maintained carbon monoxide detector on your boat. Turn off the boat's engine and other carbon monoxide-producing equipment when anchored. Always maintain a fresh circulation of air through and around your boat. Avoid areas of your boat where exhaust fumes may be present. Do not let anyone swim under or around the boarding platform. Be aware of back drafting or what is also called the station wagon effect while boating. This is when the wind is coming from the rear of your boat and can increase the buildup of carbon monoxide on board. It's best to run your boat so prevailing winds will help dissipate exhaust fumes.

Wearing a life jacket can significantly increase your chances of survival, so when in, on, or near open water please wear a life jacket that fits you properly and is designed for your water-related activity. Some people say that you cannot swim in a life jacket, but that is not true. The belt-style, inflatable life jacket that you manually inflate is ideal for swimmers in open water. All you have to do is wear it and, when you need it, pull the inflation cord, let it inflate, and put it over your head. An oral inflation tube is provided on all inflatable life jackets as a backup inflation device. Non- or weak swimmers and anyone under the age of 16 should not wear an inflatable life jacket. There are other styles of comfortable life jackets that they can wear including vest styles that come in many different sizes and colors.

A lot of people who go boating never intend to enter the water so they don't wear a life jacket, but an incident can quickly happen that causes you to fall or to be thrown out of your boat. If that happens you will not have enough time to grab a life jacket before you are in the water. Those with you might not have time to save you by reaching or throwing something that floats to you, and you will be placing their lives at risk. So please wear a life jacket while boating to help ensure you return home safely to enjoy boating another day.

USACE statistics indicate that in the past 10 years 88 percent of public recreation fatalities were male, 87 percent were 18 years old and older, and 89 percent were not wearing a life jacket. Most of the fatalities, 47 percent, occurred while swimming in areas not designated for swimming and swimming in association with boating, and 21 percent occurred from falls from boats, docks, and shorelines.

Sullivan County Deputy Game

Warden Receives Life Saving Award

Deputy Game Warden Michael Scott this week was presented with a Life Saving Award at a recent Pennsylvania Game Commission Board of Commissioners meeting in Harrisburg. The award recognizes his efforts in assisting to rescue a man who was trapped and severely injured after his tractor flipped over on him while he was trying to pull stumps.

Deputy Scott was on general patrol on the morning of the youth spring turkey hunt when he heard the rescue call go out over the county radio. Mike, who is a volunteer with the Elkland Township Ambulance, was not far from the location and immediately responded.

When Mike arrived, two neighbors were already on site and trying to dig the victim out. Mike ran back and forth numerous times from the nearby barn to bring wooden blocks, boards, and anything else he could locate and carry back to the field to use in the rescue effort.

The victim was awake (conscious and breathing) when Scott first arrived. But, by the time more help arrived, and he could be extricated, and life-flighted from the scene, the victim's condition deteriorated, as he was suffering from broken ribs and a punctured lung.

Fortunately, because of the quick response and clear thinking by DGW Scott, Shunk Volunteer Fire Dept. Fire Chief Ed Minnier (who took charge of the rescue effort) and others, the victim survived his ordeal.

State Game Warden Rick Finnegan is DGW Scott's supervisor and stated "Mike has been a deputy game warden for over nine years and works tirelessly helping anyone in need. He logs many hours as a deputy, and as a driver with the Elkland Township Volunteer Fire Dept. and Ambulance.

Mike is an asset not only to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, but to the local community as well".

Invasive silver carp found eDNA

in Lake Erie's Presque Isle Bay

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) this week announced that it has conducted targeted invasive carp sampling in Presque Isle Bay, Erie County, after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) detected the presence of Silver Carp environmental DNA (eDNA).

On July 11, 2022, the PFBC was informed by the USFWS that laboratory results from routine eDNA sampling conducted by the USFWS in May 2022 detected Silver Carp eDNA at one of the 100 sample locations in Presque Isle Bay. In response to this detection, the PFBC conducted targeted boat electrofishing sampling near the detection location on July 14, 2022. No Silver Carp were collected or observed. In addition, boat electrofishing sampling operations conducted by the PFBC in the same area of Presque Isle Bay on May 18, 2022, for another purpose prior to the positive eDNA findings, did not capture any invasive carp.

While no physical invasive carp specimens have been detected, the PFBC has requested that the USFWS collect additional water samples from Presque Isle Bay in the fall when more favorable environmental conditions are present for eDNA sampling.

The detection of eDNA is simply that, a determination of the presence of eDNA. It cannot determine whether the presence was from a live fish or from another source, such as bird feces, water transported in the live well of a recreational boat recently in waters infested with Silver Carp, or from melted ice used to store Silver Carp at fish markets that flowed into storm sewers.

However, repeated detections of eDNA over time increases the concern that the genetic material may have come from fish living in the area where the sample was collected, which is why future eDNA sampling is recommended.

Invasive carp, including Bighead Carp and Silver Carp, pose a significant threat to the Great Lakes ecosystem, the $7 billion-dollar fishery, and other economic interests dependent on the Great Lakes and its tributaries. Bighead and Silver Carp compete with native and recreational fish species and are known to quickly reproduce. Anglers are urged to become familiar with the identification of invasive carp, including both adults and juveniles, as the spread of juvenile invasive carp using live bait buckets has been identified as a potential point of entry into Great Lakes waters.

Back Woods Bass Results

Bob Strunk reports the results of the Back Woods Bass tournaments for the this week.

Back Woods Bass Results

Monday Night River Tournament

1st Place: Bill Daubert, 6 lbs. 8 oz.

2nd Place: Bob Strunk/Bruce Bonham, 5 lbs. 1 oz.

Wednesday Night Harvey's Lake Lunker

1st Place: Joe Zombek, 4.74 lbs.

2nd Place: Joe Simko, 3.86 lbs.

3rd Place: John Niezgoda, 3.18 lbs.

4th Place: Justin Kabilus, 3.06 lbs.

5th Place: Nate Hazeltine, 2.70 lbs.

6th Place: Duane Deno, 2.29 lbs.

7th Place: Jake Roland, 2.16 lbs.

8th Place: George Hogan, 2.11 lbs.

9th Place: Greg Mikulski Jr., 2.05 lbs.

10th Place: Dave Fleury 2.03, lbs.

Friday Night Harvey's Lake

1st Place: John Niezgoda/Brad Rinehimer, 11 lbs. 14 oz.

Also won Lunker Award, 3 lbs. 10 oz.

2nd Place: 2. Bob Strunk/Bruce Bonham, 8 lbs. 15 oz.

3rd Place: Mitch Bailey/Silas Farrow, 8 lbs. 3 oz.

4th Place: Jim Bojonny, 7 lbs. 15 oz.

5th Place: Chris & Jason, 6 lbs. 6 oz.

6th Place: Jake & Kevin Seamore, 5 lbs. 6 oz.

7th Place: Nate Hazeltine/Damien Strohl, 4 lbs. 9 oz.

8th Place: Randy Ritsick, 3 lbs. 4 oz.