Safety on the lakes

Water safety has been really stressed here in Nebraska due to the recent drownings this summer. Two of them were at Pawnee Lake in the last month.

With many people off work for Independence Day, Pawnee seemed to be a popular destination.

A week and half ago, Rhonda Halverson collected 50 life jackets to give away to people at Pawnee.

Many people at the lake on this 4th of July had life jackets and floaties.

Buok Koang and Lisa Korgh came to the lake with friends to go swimming. They said they brought a lot of floaties to keep them safe.

They have a different recommendation for their younger siblings.

"Usually if we come with our younger siblings, we usually tell them to stay on the shallow edge.. stay with in the area that it allows them too."

Xavier Hoferer was on the water today with his brothers and says they were following the rules that they abide by every time they visit a lake.

"We were just making sure that we were not by anybody, that’s really about it, so we don’t hurt anybody else with our gigantic raft."

Officials want to continue stressing water safety so people can continue having fun this summer with friends and family.