Officials present security suggestions after 2 water rescues at Chatfield State Park

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. — More than 2 million individuals go to Chatfield State Park yearly. During the summer time, the park can see as much as 10,000 guests on its busiest days — and whereas there may be loads of enjoyable available, that enjoyable can finish instantly if one thing goes unsuitable.

“Being on the water just generally carries that risk, and you should take it seriously,” Senior Ranger at Chatfield State Park Kyle Weber stated.

▶️ WATCH: Denver7’s Tyler Melito talks water security with officers and guests at Chatfield State Park

Officials present security suggestions after 2 water rescues at Chatfield State Park

While individuals at Chatfield State Park are prepared for some summer time enjoyable, security is high of thoughts for a lot of guests.

“Water safety is incredibly important,” beachgoer Ellie Trieu stated.

Josh Westphal echoed that sentiment.

“You never know when catastrophe is going to happen, so you just got to be prepared for it,” he stated.

For Westphal and his household, sporting a life vest is non-negotiable.

“You cannot go out in the water without it. It’s family rule,” Westphal defined.

Over Memorial Day weekend, South Metro Fire Rescue and Colorado Parks and Wildlife carried out two water rescues. Public Information Officer Brian Willie stated fortuitously, the sufferer had a life jacket in each instances.

Willie stated he notices some individuals underestimate the water.

“The one thing that we don’t want to see is that regulated life jacket protecting the board, the paddle board,” he stated. “The paddle boards float, they don’t need the life jacket sitting on them, we need those life jackets on the people wearing them.”

Willie encourages everybody to remain alert on the water.

“We always want to say have a water watcher, have somebody that is watching you or the kids,” Willie stated.

“Have a reference point that if somebody does go underwater, have that last seen point that you can tell the responders,” he added.

It is one thing Trieu stated she and her pals at all times follow.

“We usually go out on the water with groups; we don’t go individually,” Trieu stated.

While the climate Saturday is picturesque, Willie can also be reminding those that circumstances can change instantly.

“We’re going to have some severe thunderstorms that may come through, they roll through, that wind picks up, it changes the water, it changes the way everything happens,” Willie stated.