(BRANCH COUNTY) - The Branch County Sheriff's Office is urging boaters to stay sober on the water during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
The department is taking part in Operation Dry Water, a national awareness campaign focused on the dangers of alcohol- and drug-impaired boating.
The campaign runs July 3 through July 5.
The Sheriff's Office says alcohol remains the leading known contributing factor in recreational boating fatalities. Alcohol can affect judgment, balance, vision and reaction time, which are all important for safe boating.
The campaign also reminds boaters that alcohol use by passengers can create dangerous situations on the water. Impaired balance, slowed reactions and distraction can increase the risk of falls, ejections and other serious injuries.
During Operation Dry Water weekend, the Branch County Sheriff's Office will support education and outreach efforts encouraging sober boating, life jacket use and awareness of changing conditions on the water.
Operation Dry Water is coordinated nationally by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard.