It hasn't felt like it this week, but boating season is underway at Lake Tahoe.
The Nevada Department of Wildlife says the busiest stretch starts Memorial Day weekend and goes all the way through September.
NDOW has some safety reminders for people planning on hitting the lake this summer.
While some days, clear and sunny skies may feel nice and warm, Tahoe can be quite deceiving.Â
"It could be a hot, sunny day, but our water is going to remain cold and that's where cold water shock comes into play," said Ashley Zeme, Boating Education Coordinator, NDOW.
In the event you get launched from a boat or jump off, these are important things to know.
The 1-10-1 formula is an easy way to remember the three phases of cold water immersion.
After one minute is when cold water shock hits, and for most people, your body's initial instinct will be to gasp.
Which if underwater can lead to inhaling a lot of water which could be dangerous.
"A lot of people start to panic," Zeme said. "They start to hyperventilate. So that's where it's important to get that breathing under control. Try your best not to panic."
The second phase, cold incapacitation, hits the body a lot harder.
"This is the phase a lot of people think they're immune to," Zeme said. "If they're a strong swimmer, it doesn't matter how strong of a swimmer you are, your body is going to react to the cold water. So, in that first ten minutes, in the second phase of cold water shock, you're going to lose motion in your arms and legs, and all swimming ability goes away."
Zeme says in the first two stages are when you should try and self rescue as much as possible.
This includes finding a life jacket, whether you can reach for one or have someone throw you one. Then it's about finding a way to land or getting on a boat, paddleboard or a kayak.
After one hour is when your body goes into hypothermia, this is where people most likely drown if not wearing a life jacket. This is because hypothermia makes you go unconscious.
Which NDOW stresses everyone should wear one at all times.
Both Nevada and California law require there to be the same number of life jackets on a vessel as there are people.
This includes paddle boards and kayaks.
You don't need to wear them, but NDOW strongly recommends that you do, as this is the easiest and most effective way to avoid deaths.
All children under the age of 13 must wear them at all times.
Some beaches and parks have life jacket loaner stations where you can borrow one. Just make sure you bring it back when you're done.
For boaters planning on heading out, Zeme says everyone should go through a boater education course.
"In most fatalities we see, the operator of the boat did not have their boater education, and it's actually required for anyone born after January 1st, 1983 if you're going to be operating a boat on an interstate water," she said.
Another big point of emphasis NDOW wants to stress is that drinking and boating is the equivalent as drinking and driving.
"You already have the motion of the boat, the sun, dehydration," Zeme said. "Adding alcohol is a whole other layer and it the effects of it impact you a lot quicker than if you were on land, so it's just something you do not want to do. Penalties are very similar to that of a DUI."
In Nevada last year, there were zero boating deaths, which NDOW says is not normal.
Already this year, someone died in southern Nevada.
However, last year there were multiple deaths on the California side of the lake, including the deadly capsizing at D.L. Bliss State Park.
A man also died in Donner Lake and was not wearing a life jacket earlier this week.
The Nevada Department of Wildlife wants folks to have fun but do want to stress a few safety reminders.
