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PERRY, MO. -- National Safe Boating Week was from May 22nd - 28th, but safety should be on your mind every time you're on the water.

With Memorial Day weekend just days away, you, your family and friends might have plans to hit lakes and rivers all across the Tri-States.

KHQA's Jarod Wells went out on Mark Twain Lake Wednesday, May 26th with the Missouri State Water Patrol to learn the most important ways to keep safe for your Safe Family report.

Missouri State Water Patrolman Curt Glover said, "The water is high on the river and on Mark Twain Lake. You need to be aware that there is floating debris on the waterway."

When the wind and waves pick up, it will not be as easy to see potential danger floating in the water. That's just one reason you should have safety equipment on board.

Glover said, "You need to have one wearable life jacket. That can be in the form of a type three, type two or type one. You have your child's life jacket, they're required to have one at all times when they're in the boat."

To be clear, that means one wearable life jacket for every rider on the boat. Glover says most of the tickets he gives out to boaters are for children without life jackets.

What excuses do you get for children not wearing life jackets?

Glover said, "The child's too hot, it's uncomfortable for them, they don't want to wear it. The way that I do it with my family, if my son doesn't want to wear his, then we're off the boat."

Glover said, "Type B fire extinguisher, sound device - a horn or a whistle. And a type four throwable. It could be square or a round ring. These are not to be worn, these are for rescue situation if someone falls overboard you throw it to them."

Here's something else you may want to keep around.

Glover said, "It's a jump pack. If you leave your radio on and your battery goes dead and you're stuck stranded on the lake, you can use one of these real quick, start the boat up and go on."

Glover reminds you if you are of age and there is alcohol on your boat...designate a sober driver. And always pay attention to everything around you.

Glover said, "There's no ambulances out on the lake. If there's an incident that occurs, response time is slower because of the water. They need to realize that and take extra caution. It's good to have fun, but you almost have to have your head on a swivel so you know what's going on. There's no lanes of traffic, people can be coming from any direction."

Here's another reminder.

If you are skiing or on a tube being pulled by a boat, be sure to have a life jacket on.

And if you are on a jet ski, stay at least 50 feet from any other vessel if you're above idle speed.