Boating and water safety tips after third person drowns in Joe Pool Lake

Three people have drowned at Joe Pool Lake this year. The latest happened over the weekend.

Joe Pool Lake remains a favorite place for people to cool off during these hot summer months. 

Grand Prairie Fire Department Capt. Kevin Baker said it's also a common spot the Grand Prairie Dive Team is called to.

"You're one cramp away from going underwater, no matter how strong you are," Baker said.

Grand Prairie's Fire and Police Departments make up the dive team, and Police Sgt. Calvin Brown said they know the dangers of the water all too well.

"This water is very dark, and if you go under, it's not like a swimming pool where somebody can see you," Brown said.

Swimmers should stay within marked swimming boundaries.

"Only the designated areas on the lake that are designated to swim, they're designated to swim because there's no obstacles on the water," Baker said

The Grand Prairie Police Department recommends that anyone entering the water wear a life jacket and that anyone under 13 on a boat must wear one at all times. The law requires people on a jet ski to wear a Type 3 life vest.

"If you do plan on having alcohol on the boat, have somebody that's your designated boat operator and just have somebody, especially if you have kids, have a designated person to watch the kids," Brown said.

Texas law requires personal watercraft, such as motorboats and jet skis, to stay at least 50 feet away from boats and swimmers unless operating at idle speed.

"Our advice is to just go at idle speed any time you're going around swimmers," Brown said. "We have no wake zones. We have no boat zones at our designated beaches. We have a lot of individuals who break those laws."

Grand Prairie, Dallas, Cedar Hill, Mansfield, and Midlothian surround Joe Pool Lake. Baker encourages you to know which side you're on.

"If you know what part of the lake you're on and you have an emergency, you need to contact us, and we can find you easier than having to search the whole lake," Baker said.

You're also encouraged not to go out alone.

"Somebody needs to know where you're at. You should always tell a loved one if you're going out," Baker said.

People born after Sept. 1, 1993, are required to take a boater safety education course. It's all aimed at keeping people safe on the water in the sizzling summer heat.