Schools have fire drills, active shooter drills and tornado drills, but drowning kills more children every year than fires, guns and tornados.. I was drowning. If someone is drowning, they can find the life ring on the pier. said Dave Benjamin, executive director of the organization. Lifeguards not only have to worry about saving a swimmer in trouble, but also themselves. And now consider how often you play in water. It has been a deadly summer on beaches along the Great Lakes, with significantly more drownings than in pre-COVID years, a pair of UWindsor researchers has found. Lake Superior has been described as " the most . 06/24/2020 Chicago Sun-Times Plainfield man drowns at Indiana Dunes National Park. A total of [98] drownings have been reported on the Great Lakes this year, 33 in Lake Michigan. Rip Currents To get out of a rip current, it is advised to Flip, Float, Follow until the current subsides to save your energy and reduce your risk of drowning. According to the timeline, it takes less than a minute of struggling in the water for a drowning person to submerge. The drowning of a 13-year-old girl last summer 30 minutes after lifeguards had ended their shift at Loyola Beach prompted the Park District to plant a red flag at all beach locations when lifeguards were not on duty. In 2020, at least 50 people have drowned in Lake Michigan, according to the Great Lake Surf Rescue Project, which tracks drownings. Crews recovered his body around 9:45 p.m. Tuesday at Ludington State Park. The Coast Guard texted back: This is search & rescue. She texted her sister and brother: 911, Michigan Island, kayak tipped. The messages didnt go through until nearly four hours later. He was wearing a grey hoody with a RED MTN logo of the front of the sweater that is blue, black and grey in color. The presentation will cover water safety, pier safety, rip currents and life rings. 08/12/2020 NBC 5 A body pulled from Lake Michigan has been identified as Patrick Louis Tedeski, a 15-year-old boy who fell into Diversey Harbor days earlier. Ever since I moved here, we had always heard of different drownings, and it wasnt until this past season somebody decided to actually do something about it.. Flip, Float and Follow is the result of input from a variety of first responders and water safety groups that participated in the Great Lakes Water Safety Conference, sponsored by Michigan Sea Grant in 2011. You know there have been drownings over the years, but its not until you start adding them up that you go, Wow, she said. Waves pushed him to the bottom [and he struggled] for about two minutes, before he could get back to the surface and cough up the water. He said that according to the World Health Organization, drowning continues to be a neglected public health issue. A Wisconsin DNR investigative report reveals a series of errors by the family who tipped their kayak in Lake Superior near Madeline Island in late August, leading to the deaths of the three . Know your limits. 11/18/2018 Parents Preventing Childhood Drowning Sunday Survival Story: Swim Near a Lifeguard! Youve been reported overdue/missing.. Add to that the amount of trees and other debris that has washed into the Great Lakes with the high water and becoming another hazard for boaters and swimmers alike, he said. To date in 2017, there have been 9 drowning in Lake Michigan.05/15/2017 WSBT 22 Students learn beach safety in Michigan City. Because of the higher water levels and erosion, many beaches will have less beach space, so even as social distancing measures are put in place, beaches could still end up packed.. You either try to rescue the person yourself and risk your own life, or you rush back to your mobile phone and call 911. The project wants everyone to learn the drowning survival technique; flip, float and follow. How can you tell if there are dangerous rip currents and what should we do if we are ever caught in one?07/08/2018 WLNS A look at safety on the water, following 4 drownings in Mid-Michigan this week. So far this year, at least 10 other people have drowned in Lake Michigan, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. Shortly after 6:45 p.m., emergency crews found the body of the missing person in the water close to the marina. 07/30/2019 WKZO Great Lakes drowning deaths are now over 50 so far this year Lake Michigan has the highest rate of drowning occurrences. A person who is drowning will usually be facing shore, their mouth will be at water level and may have their head tipped back. 05/30/2017 My North Splash into Summer at the Sleeping Bear Dunes Water Adventure Expo. They should have said something, a 10 year old was just pulled out of the water lifeless. 06/07/2018 Western Michigan University WSW: The Rare Lifeguard On A Great Lakes Beach In Michigan Finding statistics on drownings in the Great Lakes is difficult. Weve made a pretty good effort to try and deal with it, Angeli added. I could feel the vibe in the Common Council, Zondlak said. The greatest increase in drownings were in Lake Michigan with 37 deaths, an increase of 14 deaths over the historical average of 23. CPD took over and brought the man to shore in Evanston, along with Coast Guard personnel assisting on the way. We want the lifeguards to understand that drowning is one of the largest causes of accidental death, Benjamin said. Story about the drowning: The body of Samuel Clark was found floating in Lake Superior near Barker's Island Marina on August 30. The tremendous force and energy thats created reverberate some length down the beach and there are going to be conditions where I dont think its going to be safe even with those safety features in place.. 04/23/2018 ABC 57 New Buffalo votes to keep lifeguards this summer The New Buffalo city council voted Monday to keep lifeguards on duty at least for one more summer. Because the water level is higher along the piers, a smaller wave, 2 feet 3 feet might be enough to wash someone off the pier. Read more .2016. Removing lifeguards will cost lives and the cost to recover a body is much greater than the lifeguards salaries.. LAKE MICHIGAN = 56 (Plus 4 unknown condition), LAKE ONTARIO = 21 (+1 Unknown Condition +1 Missing), 98 Great Lakes Drownings in 2019;48 of those in Lake Michigan, 838 Great Lakes Drownings since 2010(As of 12/31/2019). That includes 105 drownings in the first 10 months of 2018, at least six more than any other year. 06/10/2020 WXYZ Detroit Officials emphasize safety after 2 drown in Lake Michigan, 06/09/2020 Huron Daily Tribune Officials emphasize safety after 2 drown in Lake Michigan, 06/09/2020 Holland Sentinel COVID furloughs meant no warning flags on Holland beach as two boys drowned. The Pure Michigan tourism campaign has been wildly successful, making Michigan a hotspot for summer vacations. Winds are the primary source of the dangerous currents on the Great Lakes, said Dave Benjamin, GLSRP Executive Director. If someone gets caught in that it becomes a very dangerous situation, he said. While some year-to-year increase in the number of deaths is expected due to the growth and aging of the population, the pandemic has had a significant impact on mortality in Canada . The training was conducted by the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. He says the average beach-goer doesnt know enough about water safety. In this capacity, the Great Lakes CoastWatch program obtains, produces, and delivers environmental data and products for near real-time monitoring of the Great Lakes to support . Link in story. GLSRP recommends the flip, float, follow method for drowning survival: flip onto your back, float to keep your head above water and conserve energy and follow the safest path out of the water to safety. While many victims who have fallen or jumped off these structures were said to have been very good swimmers, the reality of past statistics paint a sad picture. Structures that may be visible on a calm day may not be visible on a windy day. There were a total of 10 distressed swimmer/near drowning calls Sunday along the Porter County shore of Lake Michigan, a statement from Ogden Dunes Police said. Water temperatures are in the 50s at the south end of Lake Michigan, and swimmers are advised not to jump off boats or piers. While the general assumption may be that, if the 2020 death rate exceeds that of previous years . 07/19/2022 SAUGATUCK, MI OVAL BEACH Lucie Ann Hoyt, F-78 bystanders had jumped in, pulling the woman out of the water and performing CPR. Thats almost twice as many as I 2015. Its not worth it. Finally, if you have to choose just one flotation device for your next trip to the beach, he says, make it a U.S. Coast Guard-approved, properly fitting life jacket., 06/07/2018 Detroit News Near-tragedy inspires [Jamie Racklyefts] Great Lakes anti-drowning effort, 07/06/2018 ABC 7 dangerous waves, rip currents make local beaches hazardous. 08/06/2018 WZZM Tips for surviving a rip current in Lake Michigan Rip currents are quite common in the Great Lakes; here are some survival tips if you get caught in one. What alarmed him most after reading the report was the type of watercraft used by the family. Its something that can go unnoticed, unless its being watched. It was the scariest thing, but Bokun told me after his family returned from Tennessee. 09/07/2020 NWI Times Indiana teens body recovered from Lake Michigan, DNR says, 09/09/2020 NWI Times Search continues for boater after he fell overboard near Hammond Marina, 09/07/2020 WNDU Southwest Michigan shorelines see high swim risk on Labor Day, 09/07/2020 WZZM Stay out of the water, Dangerous swim conditions on Lake Michigan, 09/06/2020 The Holland Sentinel My Take: Lifeguards at Lake Michigan would make all the difference, 09/05/2020 WZZM 3 water rescues reported near South Haven on Lake Michigan. Eighty-eight people drowned in the Great Lakes last year, and 73 to date in 2018, with 26 of the 73 in Lake Erie, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. Unfortunately, a drowning person can climb all over you, and a drowning person can take you under, Benjamin said. By this time, it was 10:00 p.m. and she had been in the water six hours. 10/25/2020 MLIVE Why most Lake Michigan beaches dont have lifeguards despite repeated drownings. Accomplished kite-surfer Jeff Biehler, who owned Biehlers Village Square Liquors in Hamburg, died after taking to Lake Erie on a warm and gusty afternoon on Aug. 15 and running into trouble in choppy waters. Julia Fello has the story, 09/09/2018 The Herald Argus Stay out of the water Beach hazard issued with high waves, rip currents expected, 09/08/2018 The News Dispatch Stay out of the water Beach hazard issued with high waves, rip currents expected I hoped the Great Lakes drownings would subside after the 13 Labor Day weekend fatalities, but it doesnt look like its going to slow down any time soon, said Dave Benjamin, executive director of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. A citizen volunteered his drone to help with the search. That friend called again at 12:15 a.m. to confirm that Salvino had arrived home, but the 25-year-old said he was still walking to his residence. The GLSRP is awaiting updates on these incidences. Life-saving measures were not enough. Since 2010, 631 people have drowned in the five Great Lakes; and 295 of those drowned in Lake Michigan. The police department tells Channel 3 Stout was trying to get from the pier to the lighthouse, and was most likely knocked off of the pier by a wave. The Coast Guard initially pinged the 911 calls to Madeline Island. Brianna Jacobson was sentenced to . GREAT LAKES, USA The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project (GLSRP) announces its current drowning statistics. On February 2, 2021, at approximately 5:15 p.m., officers performed a well-being check on a 55-year-old person . Even though first responders can often be at the scene within four minutes, this doesnt take into account how much time it takes for people to call for help, Benjamin says. 06/21/2020 NBC 5 Illinois Coronavirus Updates: New Social Distancing Ambassadors, More People at Beaches Water Safety Concerns Are on the Rise as More People Head to Area Beaches. Southernly winds blowing this weekend can cause offshore wind conditions for Indiana, side-offshore winds for northern Illinois, southwest Wisconsin, and southeast Michigan. 07/01/2019 Chicago Tribune DNR hosts free events for public to explore Lake Michigan Water Trail Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project was in attendance and set up a tented booth next to the lakeshore to teach children and adults about safety when in the water. Here are some resources to help you get started. In August, a general management plan for the future of Holland State Park was released to the public. And I didnt know that I didnt know would become the number one thing that we would hear from family and friends of drowning victims after a tragic event. But people often overestimate their swimming ability, Benjamin said. 04/01/2017 News Dispatch Staying Safe in the Water MICHIGAN CITY Flip. dem.info@noaa.gov . What were not happy to share is the danger that comes with swimming in the Great Lakes. The weather can change at the flick of a switch with the wind and the waves. He doesnt believe thats necessarily true. In 2019, a total of 48 people drowned in Lake Michigan. The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project said 29 people have drowned in Lake Michigan so far this year. Pratt says, drowning is the leading cause of accidental deaths in children ranging in age from 1 to 4. 05/07/2017 PR Lake Michigan Water Safety Presentation for Valparaiso Swim Club and the general public as Great Lakes drownings continue to rise in 2017, 05/07/2017 PR National Lifesaver Award Winners Continue Efforts with Chicagoland Water Safety School Presentations this week As Great Lakes drownings continue to rise in 2017. 06/18/2018 WNDU Lifeguards get summer training for beach season, 06/17/2018 WSBT 22 Lake Michigan beaches work to reduce drownings, 06/15/2018 WNDU Officials prepare for busy Fathers Day weekend at Lake Michigan beaches, 06/09/2018 Video GLSRP Open Water Surf Lifeguarding In-service, 06/08/2018 NBC 5 Authorities Warn of Dangers to Lake Michigan Swimmers. 11/02/2018 Bridge Michigan Bob Pratt, executive director of education for the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project and a retired East Lansing fire marshal, offers tips for staying safe while youre enjoying the vast bodies of water. 07/25/2022 PORT BURWELL, ONT. The lifeguards at the state park are trained to watch for rip currents and shut down swimming if they spot them, she added. 08/17/2020 Click on Detroit Swimming advisories extended for parts of Lake Michigan, 08/17/2020 Herald Dispatch One dead, several rescued from choppy waters of Lake Michigan PORTAGE Though the National Weather Service had issued beach warnings along the Lake Michigan shoreline, area beaches were packed this weekend, keeping first responders busy with emergency calls. The reason a person who is dead in the water floats to the surface is because there is bacteria on and within our body. 04/12/2018 WNDU New Buffalo City Council debates removal of lifeguards from budget City leaders say they are simply not equipped to have well-trained lifeguards on duty at the New Buffalo beach. Its fun to learn from people that have the same passion for lifeguarding that we do, she said. The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project reports 20 people have already drowned so far this year. The preliminary investigation revealed several children were playing in the water and family members believed he had exited the water and returned to the beach with other family members. Dave Benjamin, co-founder of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, has used this time to educate the public about the risks involved. Men are less likely to take safety precautions, Pratt said. Well talk with the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project about the dangers the lake still poses on these hot, final days of summer into fall. A water safety advocate and other beachgoers are calling out local government officials after the city reportedly decided not to include lifeguards at Washington Park Beach for Summer 2020, including this weekend. The lakeshore attracts local residents and visitors alike and some may not be aware of the powerful impacts that strong winds, storms and high water levels can bring. The release also links to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, a nonprofit geared toward eradicating drownings in the Great Lakes. We dont want it to happen on our watch. Being in the water, practicing swimming and floating, helps, but learning the technique could be drilled into students in an auditorium. We start making a lot of mistakes and thats why we start to hyperventilate.. And, we have a lot of people that come to this beach every summer, which means this beach is going to be even more crowded, and in a smaller space, Benjamin said. Previously, the beach east of Dunes Creek did not have lifeguards during the week but as that section of the beach got busier, the park could justify adding lifeguards there seven days a week, he said, adding the beach west of the creek had lifeguards seven days a week. Information is not being delivered effectively or efficiently to the public.. He said not only do Lifeguards save lives, but they educate the public about their specific beach hazards when patrons come to the beach. 06/21/2018 MLIVE 99% of Great Lakes drowning victims werent wearing a life jacket Since 2010, 643 people have drowned in the Great Lakes and all but six of those victims werent wearing a personal flotation device. 05/01/2017 infoSuperior Statistics Show Spike in Lake Superior Drownings What if rescuers didnt have to enter the water? Home. Malewitz says after a very heated public meeting, the city council decided to stay the course for now, and keep lifeguards on New Buffalo beaches. Lifeguards are trained to recognize the signs of drowning, which Benjamin said many people misunderstand. Even the gold letters of the ship's nameplate are still . It becomes a frantic search.. Dave Benjamin, executive director of public relations and project management at GLSRP, said he was aware of three other likely drownings in the last several days, including a father and son who capsized in Lake Erie and a body that was recovered from Lake Michigan in Chicago. When you are struggling in water over your head we recommend you flip over on your back, float and then follow the safest path out of the water, Benjamin said. 04/12/2018 Dave Benjaminspeaks outat New Buffalo City Council Meeting Lifeguards save lives, are an asset, are first responders. Drowning is a public health issue, and its not treated like a public health issue., We call it the flip, float and follow, Benjamin said, comparing it to the advice for if clothes catch fire. But suddenly, they were hit by a wave. 06/04/2019 Southtown Star Just because you know how to swim, doesnt mean you know how to survive As pool and beach season gets underway safety experts remind water lovers not to have a false sense of security because a lifeguard is on duty or because they know how to swim. 10/05/2018 Kenosha News Readers discuss installation of first life ring kiosk Life rings are credited with saving lives in Grand Haven, Holland and St. Joseph in Michigan, and Gary and Michigan City in Indiana. The water beckons visitors like a dip under a waterfall. Our lakefront is a deceptively dangerous place to swim. Adls body was found floating at Whitefish Dunes State Park in Door County at 7:54 a.m. Sunday, 09/04/2018 Fox 6 News The deadliest since we started tracking in 2010: 12 drownings in Great Lakes over Labor Day weekend, 09/01/2018 The News Dispatch Caution urged when swimming in big lake Two Lake Michigan drownings make for deadly start to long weekend. And several deaths each year occur when people are blown or washed off breakwaters, docks, cliffs and other similar nearshore structures. Southernly winds will be blowing today. MUNSING, Mich. (WLUC) - UPDATE: The body of the second kayaker that died on Lake Superior near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore was recovered on Friday . Benjamin got involved with the organization in 2010 after he nearly died from a drowning while surfing on the Great Lakes. He had a bad wipe out, fell on his back and had the wind knocked out of him. I think thats had a lot to do with paddle-boarding and an increase in the amount of watercraft on the Great Lakes.. Gerard was at the Frankfort beach enjoying the day with his family, riding the cascading waves and stopping for breaks between sets. But it wasnt a bullet that killed them. The experience of Michigan City is worth sharing today and could offer insight and a road map for Kenosha officials. She died from hypothermia. 09/13/2018 Kenosha News Life rings helping save lives in beach locations There should be no question that life rings are an important step toward public safety. The Lake Michigan victims, all of whom drowned on Friday, were a 25-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man in Chicago; and a woman in her 60s in Kenosha, Wisconsin. As of late Wednesday, 5,400 [8,500+] people had signed the petition. Park Rangers found nine-year old Kyra the next morning on the shore of Michigan Island. 10/09/2020 Spartan News Room Is Lake Michigan the most dangerous Great Lake? And the years not over. Its the only place they could cool off, and we should have had lifeguards here. Last year, the number of deaths due to drowning in the Great Lakes was 118, making it the deadliest year since the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project began tracking drownings in the Great Lakes in 2010. Pratt says, more than 20 people in Michigan have died after drowning this year alone. Many accidents and incidents near harbor structures occur during the turbulent weather season late in the year and higher than normal water levels pose an added threat. 09/02/2017 WZZM 68 people have drowned in the Great Lakes in 2017, 09/02/2017 WISN ABC Surfer helps save man from rough Lake Michigan At Bradford Beach, 09/01/2017 WNEM Report: 68 drownings reported in Great Lakes this year, 09/01/2017 WLNS Great Lakes drownings prompt warning for holiday swimmers. There have been 76 in all five Great Lakes as of Sept. 18. 08/24/2018 WKYC 16-year-old swimmer drowns at Ashtabulas Walnut Beach; 26 Lake Erie fatalities this year. A full-time seasonal officer is also assigned to off-road vehicle patrol of the City Beach and state park, Hawke said. Minutes pass while you establish your location and get emergency responders to the scene. The flash of memories. 08/02/2017 David OShaughnessy, M-? Once a person figures out which way the current is moving they should swim perpendicular to the current until theyre out of it. Knowing how to swim is not enough. In addition, the CDC states, for every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries. 07/07/2019 ABC 7 Newsviews: Water Safety The weather has finally warmed up and maybe youve spent time at the beach this weekend. Pratt and Dave Benjamin, GLSRP executive director, were tasked with leading over a dozen lifeguards, mostly teenagers, in an open water surf lifeguard training session Tuesday afternoon. The GLSRP recorded 117 in 2018, 07/26/2019 Cleveland 19 Officials warning swimmers of dangers in Lake Erie; 2019 could set record for drownings, 07/26/2019 WZZM ABC 13 NWS warns beachgoers of dangerous swimming conditions Saturday We strongly advise NOT going into the water., 07/26/2019 Detroit News Beware boaters and swimmers: High winds on Great Lakes this weekend Dave Benjamin, executive director of public relations and project management for the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, said looking at the warm weekend, southerly winds can cause offshore wind conditions for southeast Michigan. Were utilizing our social media pages to post conditions. The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project will talk about water safety during a meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 2050 W. 1100 North in Chesterton. He was swimming with his mom and another sibling when he submerged. He was to be a sophomore at Waubonsie Valley High School in High School in Aurora.He was so much fun and he was so protective of me, you couldnt ask for a better kid, his heart was so pure, Freeman said. Theres a stigma of drowning. It includes pictures and information the public is getting to see for the first time. He was rescued around 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 13, and handed over a gear box before getting on the Coast Guard vessel.