GREEN BAY, WI -- There have been three water rescues in as many days on the Bay of Green Bay this week.
The surge of emergencies has the U.S. Coast Guard reminding boaters to be ready for anything on the water.
Each rescue this week had their differences--from kayakers, to a boat in distress, to a stranded jet skier. But experts say there are ways to stay safe in each scenario.
Too much can go wrong in open water.
"The waves got real big, and I got nervous," recalls a woman rescued Wednesday night after her group's boat found itself in distress near Long-Tail Point.
The list of things that can go wrong quickly ranges from getting lost, or disoriented, "or, your boat breaks down, your jet ski breaks down," adds Officer in Charge Austin Olmstead, with the U.S. Coast Guard Green Bay post, "whatever the case may be."
That was the the case this morning, when Sturgeon Bay's Coast Guard team rescued a stranded jet skier, forced to spend the night on Long-Tail Point after officials say something broke down.
"If you don't have a VHF radio on your boat, [have a] cell phone. You can dial 911," says Olmstead. "There's also a Coast Guard app. It has an emergency call button. You can file a float plan, to let your loved ones know where you're going, and what time you're going to be back."
Three girls were rescued Tuesday night after being blown away from shore on rented paddle boards
But a waterproof cell phone pouch helped them call for help.
"It's a clear, waterproof bag," explains Olmstead. "You can actually talk through the bag."
Boaters and kayakers also have the option of buying a personal locator beacon.
"You can activate it, and it transfers the signal through a satellite," explains Olmstead, "with your latitude and longitude, so rescuers know exactly where to go."
And, of course, never hit the water without your life jacket.
Olmstead says the paddle sports trend is growing at an alarming rate on the Great Lakes, leading to many rescues due to inexperienced first-timers.
He urges people to get familiar with your equipment first.
