Safety first: Coast Guard officials add patrols on Lake Michigan during Summerfest's 11-day run

MILWAUKEE -- Summerfest attracts hundreds of thousands of people to Maier Festival Park each year -- and the U.S. Coast Guard has added patrols on Lake Michigan to ensure everyone stays safe this festival season.

"One side of (the Summerfest grounds) is surrounded by water -- and a lot of people get on their boats, they come up, they anchor and they listen to the music from their boats," Eric Hopperdietzel with the U.S. Coast Guard said.

Among them will be the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Those with the Coast Guard station in Milwaukee patrol hundreds of square miles of Lake Michigan.

"25-foot response boat and a forty-five foot," Hopperdietzel said.

During Summerfest's 11-day run, extra attention is paid to boaters near the Big Gig.

"We increase our awareness on the water. We will just stop boaters at random to do a random safety check to make sure they have all the required gear on board," Hopperdietzel said.

Hopperdietzel said Lake Michigan is federal water, and there are different rules than on inland lakes.

"They need to have flares on board. Inland lakes, you are not required to have flares," Hopperdietzel said.

Another difference relates to children and life jackets.

"If you're 13 and below, federal law requires that your kids are in a life jacket. Inland lakes, that's not so," Hopperdietzel said.

The U.S. Coast Guard also asks that you check the weather and check it often, as conditions on the water can change quickly.

Summerfest

And of course, you should never boat under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.

CLICK HERE to learn more about "Operation Dry Water" an effort by the Coast Guard and other agencies to keep you safe on the water. You can sign a petition pledging to never boat while impaired.