Dam Safety Awareness Week

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Wausau Downtown Airport, WI

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Updated: 9:13 PM May 1, 2005 Dam Safety Awareness Week From "7 On Your Side," a warning about river dams and how dangerous they are this time of year. Posted: 6:21 PM May 1, 2005 Reporter: Amanda Lutz

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Gov. Doyle has declared this week "Dam Safety Awareness Week" in Wisconsin to promote safety awareness and help prevent accidents throughout the spring and summer.

Every year, hundreds of people are killed or injured in dam accidents because the strong currents and force are too much for people to handle, especially this time of year.

"The flowages can be full at that time, so you get more runoff and there's more flow coming through," says Capt. Tom Leslie of the Wausau Fire Department.

Some tips to stay safe around dams:

- Obey all warning signs, barriers, and sirens.
- Wear a life jacket when boating.
- Stay clear of spillways where the water flows through.
- Don't anchor your boat or swim near a dam.