Water Safety in Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, wear a life jacket on the lake, and make sure any 12- to 15-year-old who drives a boat has passed a safety course and has an adult with them. Oklahoma's drowning rate is in the highest band on CDC's state map, and boating incidents here are often deadly.

Oklahoma drowning and boating numbers

1.75 per 100,000

• Drowning: CDC puts Oklahoma's average annual drowning death rate for 2018-2021 at 1.75 per 100,000 people (opens in a new tab).
• Boating: The U.S. Coast Guard counted 49 reportable recreational boating incidents in Oklahoma in 2024, with 14 deaths and 40 injuries (opens in a new tab). Thirteen of the 49 incidents involved a death. Deaths by year: 17 in 2020, 12 in 2021, 14 in 2022, 11 in 2023 and 14 in 2024.
• Training matters: nationally, where instruction was known, 69% of deaths occurred on boats where the operator did not receive boating safety instruction (opens in a new tab) (Coast Guard, 2024).

CDC counts drowning deaths of residents; the Coast Guard counts boating incidents. See our Oklahoma data page.

Young boat drivers

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says any person who is 12, 13, 14 or 15 years of age that operates any boat powered by a motor more than 10 horsepower, a sailboat 16 feet or greater in length or a personal watercraft (opens in a new tab) must pass a NASBLA-approved boating safety course and carry the card. Supervision rules apply too:

• In a motorboat or sailboat, an adult 18 or older must be on board, in a position to take control if needed.
• On a personal watercraft, an adult 18 or older must visually supervise from within 500 yards.

The Highway Patrol offers a free 6-hour classroom course; courses fill up quickly, so register early. The Coast Guard Auxiliary, the U.S. Power Squadrons and approved online providers also offer courses. Read water safety for teens for more on talking with teens about risk.

Federal law requires children under 13 to wear a life jacket on a moving boat (opens in a new tab). This is a summary, not legal advice.

Swimming at Chickasaw

At Chickasaw National Recreation Area, the National Park Service says Rock Creek, Veterans Lake, and Lake of the Arbuckles are open to swimming (opens in a new tab), except near boat launches and fishing docks. Travertine Creek is open to swimming from Little Niagara downstream; areas upstream are closed to swimming and wading. In the busy summer season, the park monitors bacteria at its most popular swimming spots and posts the results.

Wherever you swim, follow Chickasaw's lead: choose a spot away from boat launches and docks, and check for water quality warnings. See lake swimming safety and is the water safe to swim in?

What you can do today

• Register a 12- to 15-year-old for the free OHP boating course before boating season.
• Set your family's rule: an adult rides along or watches every time a teen drives.
• Put a fitted life jacket on every child, and wear one yourself.
• Choose a sober skipper; read boating under the influence.
• Find swim lessons with our guide to finding swim lessons.