Bob Pratt and The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project are both very serious about water safety and drowning and give many lifesaving tips in the interview. Deaths: 10. Sadly, most of these drownings happen on our nearby pond, Lake Michigan. Also, the report states, most people who drown arent wearing life jackets. and windy days. The group also discussed ideas from staffing beaches with lifeguards to better signage indicating the dangers of swimming in dangerous areas, such as the Pike outlet, as well as flotation devices that could be placed in and around the piers. And most importantly, Benjamin says you should always have life jackets when around any body of water. So I worry about the additional risk posed to lifeguards who would come to the beach, White said. 07/13/2022 SOUTH HAVEN, MI NORTH BEACH PARK WOULD-BE RESCUER WAVES & DANGEROUS CURRENTS 7:30 p.m. Anthony Paul Diehl M-33, of Beaver Creek, OH. Great Lakes drownings Three of the warmest summers this decade have also brought the three highest numbers of annual drownings. There were 11 more drowning deaths than average in Lake Ontario this year and four more in Lake Huron. We verified what is true using information from the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, a nonprofit that tracks drowning statistics and trains people in water safety, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Future of New Buffalo lifeguard program in doubt New Buffalo leaders are still debating the future of the citys lifeguard program. Be aware that icy buildups can increase your risk of falling in even on relatively calm days. 04/14/2020 Patch Homewood Man Wins Lifesaver of The Year Award Dave Benjamin has been recognized for his efforts to prevent drownings across the Great Lakes. 05/01/2017 infoSuperior Statistics Show Spike in Lake Superior Drownings What if rescuers didnt have to enter the water? There were four drownings in Lake Erie and four more in Lake Superior, where a father and three children ages 3, 5 and 9 drowned when their kayak overturned near Madeline Island off Bayfield, Wisconsin. Strapped local governments are not hiring lifeguards, which means places like Bradford Beach in Milwaukee wont be staffed to handle emergencies. Benjamin said part of the training process is explaining the signs of a potential drowning victim and how to identify a potential victim. We take the research, statistics and data and break it down, so beachgoers know its one of the leading causes of accidental deaths, which most people dont know, Benjamin said. 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.. The 17-year-old boy was with friends when he jumped off the north pier at the harbor and was overcome by strong currents Thursday. To date in 2017, there have been 9 drowning in Lake Michigan.05/15/2017 WSBT 22 Students learn beach safety in Michigan City. A mayday was called and divers on the boat were able to locate the man and get him on-board. 04/04/2017 Stand Up Paddle the World Radio Bob Pratt is serious about drowning, very serious. CPD took over and brought the man to shore in Evanston, along with Coast Guard personnel assisting on the way. The Coast Guard encourages anyone who plans to use a watercraft whether a boat, Jet Ski, kayak or canoe to seek the appropriate training first. It has done classes in Duluth (in summer, seen here) and we just liked the Baywatch image on its open along with the good statistics on drownings and its safety tips. Benjamin gets people to think about water safety with a simple question: Can you swim?, Then he takes them through a series of common sense questions, including What do you do if your clothes catch fire? and What number do you call in an emergency?. It was a deadly weekend on the Great Lakes, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, an organization that tracks drownings on the Great Lakes. To make the Pure Michigan campaign so effective, the state piled money into TV ads, billboards and radio spots. The man was fortunate because Sunday was one of the last days lifeguards were on duty this season. During offshore winds, the water at the shoreline can be deceptively calm, but the farther one gets from shore, the winds become stronger and the water can become choppy. But with high water levels and erosion leading to smaller beach fronts, many are packing in, leading to increased concern over water safety. The co-founder of Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, a nonprofit that works to cut the number of Great Lakes drownings through training and education, Dave Benjamin is asking beach goers to take certain precautions due to the higher water levels. Meteotsunamis are sort of the sharks of the Great Lakes, Benjamin said. The kayakers were reported missing Thursday evening at Michigan . I believe the best lifeguards you can find on the Great Lakes are surfers, Benjamin said, because they learn how the waves break and how to conserve energy in the water. Thatcher knew how to respond if he gets in trouble in the water. November 10, 1975 (Edmund Fitzgerald Storm) This storm sank the Edmund Fitzgerald near Whitefish Point, Michigan, with all crew lost. It's made Thunder Bay the highest per capita opioid death rate in Ontario. So having the equipment there is great. More signs and the addition of life rings and ropes may not prevent another drowning, but if just one person is saved, isnt it worth it? In a kayak that offered no protection from the elements, the father made a fateful decision for his family, to try to paddle to the lighthouses on Michigan Island. 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. But the No. The first two drownings of the season occurred on Lake Erie five days and about 5 miles apart in May. 04/12/2018 ABC 57 Open forum to discuss future of New Buffalo lifeguards to be held Thursday. Already, 2019 has claimed 16 Great Lakes drowning victims, with the latest victim being pulled out of Lake Michigan at the end of May. 07/12/2018 AP US News & World Reports Chicago Urged to Extend Lifeguard Hours After Drowning The Chicago Park District is being urged to extend lifeguard patrols after the recent drowning of a 13-year-old girl. Fell into the lake and swept away by waves. But we got no replies.. Pratt says, drowning is the leading cause of accidental deaths in children ranging in age from 1 to 4. Five-year old, Annaliese sat near the bow. The Kenosha Fire Department, which is leading the search efforts, said it had searched the harbor channel and areas near the pier multiple times without success, and said conditions, including strong currents and 6-foot waves, were putting search crews at risk. So, instead of manning the lifeguard station, Swim At Your Own Risk signs will be installed, and the Michigan City Police Department will perform frequent beach patrols, he said. All rights . As the winds travel farther north, the winds will also create waves and dangerous currents such as longshore currents, rip currents, and structural currents. 08/02/2018 WSBT 22 Special Report: What to do for a drowning victim after you call 911, 07/31/2018 WSBT 22 Promo When seconds count. Thats why the U.S. Coast Guard in St. Joseph, Michigan is stressing water safety as the seasons begin to change. Drownings are 100% preventable, and we are committed to preventing all drownings in the City of Michigan City and adjacent communities. Its something that can go unnoticed, unless its being watched. A person will become unconscious and their heart will stop. Yet despite of an average of 33 drownings per year, very few Lake Michigan beaches have lifeguards watching the waves. Weve made a pretty good effort to try and deal with it, Angeli added. He was recovered and lifesaving measures were taken, but he succumbed. They should have said something, a 10 year old was just pulled out of the water lifeless. He was reported to be in the water, yelling for help and struggling to stay afloat. Pratt says, wearing one can decrease your risk of drowning. One of the main contributors is the stigma when a drowning happens, from a public point of view, people blame the victim, blame the parents or blame it on Darwinism, he said. As Hoffmaster explained during Tuesdays council workshop, the city has lost $1.1 million in revenue per month since the Blue Chip Casino and Washington Park shut down. Dr. Houser and Vlodarchyk found the number of drownings were lower than the historical average early in the pandemic, but the number began to increase as stay-at-home orders were lifted. 08/21/2018 ABC 7 Beach Hazard in effect for Lake Michigan Tuesday after 3 boys drown over weekend As if on cue, surfers like Jim Hoop began showing up at Indianas Whiting Beach. Hooffstetter was a Deans List student majoring in criminology and psychology. 05/17/2017 Chicago Sun-Times Balmy temps and frigid Lake Michigan a lethal mix Tianna Hollinside, 13, and Juan Cornelio, 23, may have never known what hit them before they joined the ranks of Chicagoans who died too young. Since they began, theyve tracked more than 750 deaths. Director Dave Benjamin acknowledges the threat posed by meteotsunamis, but he said only one-third of the drownings in the region are caused by dangerous waves or currents. According to Cook County Medical Examiners office, the diver, David OShaughnessy, died of asphyxia. 8 feet (2.4 m) Wreck of a small wooden tugboat discovered in 2007 near Duluth, Minnesota. (Link in article.). 07/06/2020 The Weather Network How COVID-19 fatigue can lead to an increase in summer drownings, 07/04/2020 The Detroit News The nonprofit Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project reports there have been 20 Great Lakes drownings so far in 2020, and the numbers could climb in the summers warmest months as people fail to prepare for hazards such as rip currents, said executive director Dave Benjamin. 09/26/2017 Manistee News Advocate Fall and winter season pose new hazards to fishermen The danger of drowning doesnt disappear with the summer season. Great Lakes drownings in WNY The seven drownings on Lake Erie and Lake Ontario combined is more than double the number of fatalities this decade. A water safety school curriculum needs to be mandated and funded in the Great Lakes region as well as nationwide. Register by March 20for the early-bird rate of $49 ($59 after). Weve worked very closely with Northern Michigan University in order to make sure the information gets out to people, especially those new to the area, about the dangers of the lake, the dangers of certain areas within the city limits where people swim, said Marquette City Manager Mike Angeli. From shore, Freeman had been keeping a close eye on her kids in the water when she noticed they drifted down a bit. When people panic, they exhale more, and they deflate their lungs and lower their natural buoyancy. 06/30/2018-2 ABC 7 GLSRP at IL DNR Lake Michigan Water Trail Event at Winthrop Harbor Chicago Weather: Excessive Heat Warning in effect for area as heat wave continues Saturday. In this most recent drowning, a 10-year-old girl was swimming near the area where the Pike River meets the lake Saturday evening when she began having trouble in the water. Currents caused by wind or structures like piers can make swimming in the lakes dangerous. The vessel's wreck was discovered in 1972 and is one of the most remarkable and well-preserved wrecks in Lake Superior. 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. In 2019, a total of 48 people drowned in Lake Michigan. 10/17/2020 Pool Fence DIY Lake Drowning Prevention: Lake Michigan Sets a Drowning Record with 53 Lives Lost in 2020. Great Lakes drownings are just the tip of the iceberg of the nationwide drowning crisis., 09/08/2018 Fox 6 News On track to be the worst year on record: Almost 100 people have drowned in the Great Lakes in 2018. We want the lifeguards to understand that drowning is one of the largest causes of accidental death, Benjamin said. His office is researching a warning system that records wind and wave activity and could set off an alarm or strobe light when its too dangerous to be in the water. The project reports 117 lives were lost on the Great Lakes because of drowning and they say, that number should be zero. Eventually, the Coast Guard realized the calls were coming from Lake Superior. As Coronavirus cabin fever mixes with summer excitment, many people want to get out and jump in the pool or lake. 06/06/2017 ABC 7 Lake Michigan beach hazard warning, swim advisory in effect Tuesday With a possibility of a closure on Wednesday, or maybe yellow flags on Wednesday, which means people allowed in the water up to a certain depth, said Nick Kalwinski, Whihala Beach supervisor. Preliminary data on fatalities which occurred in the surf zones across National Weather Service areas of forecast responsibility through January 31, 2023. As long as that pier and water are together we have to have a life-saving device available so we can help in a situation like we had last week.. Knowing how to swim is not enough. He now serves as a [co-founder] and executive director at the nonprofit Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, which has given 487 presentations since 2011. Its not like the movies, with a lot of splashing and yelling, he said. The psychology of men is that theyre more likely to take risks, to succumb to peer pressure and overestimate their abilities, he said. The . 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. He was brought to shore where life-saving efforts were started and then transported in critical condition to Franciscan Health Michigan City hospital. A full-time seasonal officer is also assigned to off-road vehicle patrol of the City Beach and state park, Hawke said. And it blows my mind that you have all these beaches with no life guards.. It could be kayakers, people on paddleboards or other recreational activities. (Full Storyhere). The official page of the Douglas County. 08/01/2019 WBEZ Morning Shift Lake Michigan Drownings Are On The Rise. Nine of last years drowning were in Northwest Indiana, including two in Michigan City. 07/12/2018 ABC Channel 10/13 Under Water: Searching for Air Pt. 06/07/2017 Northwest Indiana Times Training to combat drowning in the Region Here in Northwest Indiana, drowning is always top of mind for lifeguards, especially those who trained on Tuesday morning at Washington Park beach in Michigan City, and on Monday at Whihala Beach in Whiting, as part of the Open Water Surf Lifeguard In-Service Training Program.