In advance of thousands of Utahns heading to the reservoirs, the all-terrain vehicle trails, the rivers and campsites this weekend, state officials held a briefing Wednesday to try to help keep people safe.

One resounding message is to pack patience. It will be crowded.

And then there are the things you should do to keep you and your loved ones safe as you recreate over the Labor Day weekend.

Keeping safe means you should:

Wear a helmet when mountain biking and off-roading

Wear a life jacket while boating and during float trips

Use safe wildfire practices — such as leaving your campground fire completely extinguished in the pit

Not park on a dry, wild land surface

Wear sunscreen, drink water, bring plenty of snacks and a GPS locater, and tell friends, family and even co-workers whe

See Full Page