This follows 2020, when 56 people drowned in Lake Michigan, setting a new high. On June 21, the Surf Rescue Project cites another suspected drowning that occurred when the body of a man was recovered from Lake Erie off of Woodlawn Beach. And most drownings happen during this most dangerous time of the year, when frigid water incapacitates people who accidentally fall in. Please join us in enjoying them with care. 10/01/2018 Kenosha News Council to consider authorizing installation of life saving devices at Pike River, pier Initiatives intended to bring life-saving devices and public awareness to the dangers of drowning in Lake Michigan will come before the City Council tonight. With swimming season just getting started, this year could match that total. 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. There were 11 more drowning deaths than average in Lake Ontario this year and four more in Lake Huron. He talks about a recent rescue effort that he personally joined in, at Washington Park beach in Michigan City, and offers tips to swimmers when they step into Lake Michigan. He and Houser believe the pandemic is responsible for the increased drownings because the increase could not be attributed to the warm summer weather this year. Last year there were 46 drownings in Lake Michigan plus 6 listed in Critical Condition. 06/21/2020 CBS 2 Summer Swimming Safety Tips As Indiana Beaches Reopen CHICAGO Beaches are still closed in Illinois, but they are opening up in Indiana. 08/26/2019 NBC 5 Chicago Lake Michigan Safety Warning Strong winds and dangerous waves continued to kick up on Chicagos lakefront Monday after a weekend in which two people died in drownings. Also included in the initiatives is a new flag pole to display warning flags, extra rigging rope and life rings to throw to those in distress, water rescue goggles for emergency personnel, and a safety message that will be playing on loop on AM 1700. Heres how to stay safe in Lake Michigan this summer. The problem was the way the weight was distributed. Swimmers who find themselves in trouble should follow the drowning survival strategy of flip, float and follow flipping on their back to stay calm, floating to conserve energy and following the safest path out of the water which often means swimming parallel to the shore when caught in a rip current. Like the widely known stop, drop and roll technique used when clothing catches fire, Benjamin said everyone should know flip, float and follow. If you want to live, you have to stay at the surface of the water and continue breathing, he said. In that moment, as I yelled out, I felt a peaceful calm come over me, Bokun recalled. The record highs on Lake Superior were previously set in the . City Controller Yvonne Hoffmaster broke the news to the Michigan City Common Council during a workshop on city finances Tuesday. The waves will pound you, the undertow will grab youyou may scream . 06/05/2017 Lakeshore Public Radio Dont become another drowning statistic. 05/27/2017 Pantagraph Dont blame Darwin, says anti-drowning project leader A director of a group working to prevent drowning in the Great Lakes area says stigmatizing drowning hampers such efforts. Once you are floating and calm, find the safest route out of the water. 04/12/2018 WZZM Michigan beach town of New Buffalo axing its lifeguards, despite drownings Last year, 40 people drowned in Lake Michigan, down slightly from 46 a year earlier, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, a safety group that tracks drownings. 11/18/2020 US Army Corps of Engineers High water levels and wave events increase safety hazards The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers urges caution around Great Lake piers, breakwaters and jetties, particularly during times of high wind and wave events. They believe its the best approach to spreading information quickly, having completed more than 450 presentations in seven of the eight Great Lakes states. 10/18/2018 Detroit News Tourists, residents alike hit by Mich. water deaths, 10/14/2018 The Record Eagle DANGEROUS WATERS Families, advocates deal with aftermath of death in or near water. The Buffalo sector of the U.S. Coast Guard reported, anecdotally, that it has seen more and more distress calls in the water in recent years. No one was injured. If we can just control that panic and get people to calm down, theyre half way to being saved., 05/22/2020 News Dispatch Water safety activist says not having lifeguards will cost lives MICHIGAN CITY A decision to terminate the lifeguard program at Washington Park beach will cost lives, according to a man who tracks drownings on the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project reports 20 people have already drowned so far this year. Plus, if you take the boat out, be on the lookout hazards like vegetation or trees that couldve been washed off the shore line that are now submerged close to the water due to high water levels and wave activity. 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. There have been 20 drownings in the Great Lakes so far this year. Strong winds and high waves contributed to the deaths of two kayakers at Lake Superior following a two-day search, officials said. The most recent drowning in Lake Erie according to the GLSRP occurred Friday morning when a man jumped out his boat near Put-in-Bay. But White is resistant to that idea. As an EMT and Lifeguard, he knows that drowning is preventable, especially in the sport of Stand Up Paddle Boarding. A good Samaritan jumped in the water and saved the children and had a life ring thrown out to them before the Coast Guard arrived on scene. Superior Obituaries. Two other deaths on Lake Erie occurred just outside of New York waters, including the July drowning of a 12-year-old Elmwood Franklin School girl in Fort Erie, Ont. Other beaches dont have that, she said, adding when unsafe conditions shut down swimming, swimmers sometimes go to an unguarded beach. Its unknown if a lifeguard was present at the time. According to the Great Lakes Surf and Rescue Project, 2017 has been the deadliest year for the start to drowning season. 09/07/2018 Kenosha News Search called off for teen presumed drowned in harbor With conditions worsening on Lake Michigan, the Kenosha Fire Department ended the search for a teen presumed drowned in Kenosha Harbor. 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. 07/08/2020 WGN 720 AM Summer safety: Tips for staying safe around water Dave Benjamin, Co-Founder of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, joins the Ji Suk Yi show to talk about important swimming safety tips to help you and your kids be safe this summer while in the water. Over 10,000 lives have been lost in her waters. Michigan City Mayor Ron Meer issued this statement: It humbles me to know that the equipment we installed was utilized by two Michigan City residents to prevent drownings from occurring. In absence of that, he noted that the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety is a leader in water rescue training and is often called to help train personnel from other agencies. It was one of four drownings in 2018, putting officials under pressure to do something. I didnt know that 80 percent of all drowning victims are male. All these hazards are leading right into Memorial weekend, Benjamin said. I cannot stress enough that drowning really is a public health issue that needs to be treated like a public health issue, Dave Benjamin, Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project executive director, said last fall. The seven local drownings in 2018 and two others with local connections make up whats also been among the deadliest years throughout the Great Lakes. The two summers this decade warmer than this past one 2012 and 2016 were the equally deadly years on the Great Lakes. She texted her sister and brother: 911, Michigan Island, kayak tipped. The messages didnt go through until nearly four hours later. And when we listened to these I didnt know factors from these families and friends of drowning victims, we realized that these factors were not complex ideas. Running a helicopter out of its summer birth in Muskegon (HH-65 Dolphin) costs about $10,000 per hour. 04/12/2018 ABC 57 Open forum held to discuss the future of New Buffalo lifeguards We were given three minutes today to talk about the importance of lifeguards, only three minutes. Zirkle has made it her mission to honor her sons memory and save people from the same tragedy through water safety education. The week of education programs was part of a larger series of initiatives to improve safety at the lakefront, including larger warning signs, throw bags for police squad cars and the installation of life ring kiosks at areas where there are dangerous currents, including near the mouth of the Pike River and at the North Pier. 11/08/2017 WBAY ABC 2 State of Lake Michigan conference highlights importance of water safety education One man says water safety education in schools could help stop what he calls a drowning epidemic in the Midwest. The officers have new rescue suits and equipment purchased in 2017 through a donation from the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation. 06/30/2018 Daily Herald Excessive heat warning extended to 7 p.m. Sunday We call this a lake, but its really like an inland sea. But leaders with the city say that protection isnt real, and is a liability. Do the opposite of your instincts. Story about the drowning: The body of Samuel Clark was found floating in Lake Superior near Barker's Island Marina on August 30. 04/04/2018 Journal Review Water safety group to debut public safety announcement today via Facebook Live, 03/30/2018 The Herald Argus Flip, float and follow Surf Rescue educator gives advice for surviving in rough water, 03/29/2018 The News Dispatch Bob Pratt, executive director of education at the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, spent the past week providing water safety education to Michigan City Area Schools students, and opened each of their 16 different presentations with the quiz [which ended with, What do you do if you are drowning?. The number nearly doubled the previous year, and was the worst for drownings since 2012. Less than 5% of the students can answer it. The U.S. Coast Guard on Saturday suspended the search for a man who reportedly fell off a boat in Sandusky Bay Friday night. 06/04/2019 Post-Tribune Drowning doesnt look like drowning, says water safety advocatenlike the way its portrayed in movies, drowning is often quiet. 05/15/2017 ABC 57 As summer nears, experts warn about dangers of Lake Michigan Life-saving lessons along the lake shore. 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. 08/20/2018 WWMT Officials warn public of dangerous water, swimming conditions, 08/20/2018 Chicago Tribune Number of kids drowning in Lake Michigan increases; dangerous conditions continue Tuesday, 08/20/2018 NWI Times Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project: 22 people have drowned in Lake Michigan this year as NWS forecasts life-threatening swim conditions. In her life on the shore of Lake Superior she mingles with fishermen and farmers, quiet folk who keep to themselves. Although the council voted to keep the lifeguards this summer, it will revisit the discussion in the fall to determine if the program will continue in the future. Its been a busy season a lot of responses, said U.S. Coast Guard junior grade Lt. Kyle Maxey. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in five people who die from drowning in the United States are children age 14 and younger. It was the first mistake, of several, documented in the report. 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. 10/25/2022 Long Point Around 3:45 p.m. John Doe, M-?, OPP were notified that a body was found in the water near the tip of Long Point while they were doing training exercises. In addition to getting in the water, the lifeguards-in-training learned about the risk of drowning. Note:* = (+/-) Awaiting 100% confirmation of drowning. His companion survived. Many of those victims simply go under and dont come up. 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. A water safety school curriculum needs to be mandated and funded in the Great Lakes region as well as nationwide. No drownings were reported in Lake Superior, according to the GLSRP. And boat sales are up across the country as Americans search for socially distant fun, he said. He adds that, at around 10 minutes of submersion, a person only has a 14 percent chance of survival. But, they may not necessarily be in a position to help in case of trouble. So far this year, at least 10 people have drowned in Lake Michigan, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. Especially the lake, Hoop said. Ingrid Torfa lives between two worlds. Keeping in mind three simple steps if you find yourself in dangerous water can be a life saver. He hopes the effort will span to all Michigan beaches. If (LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers star forward) has a bad day, he might not win the game. In 2019, Grand Haven State Park and City Beach posted numbered area signs to help get first responders where they are needed more quickly. Ahmad Z. Adl, 34, was part of a group of five people who were camping at Harrington Beach State Park in Ozaukee County on Aug. 20 when they decided to go swimming about 1 p.m. A search was launched for Adl when he didnt return to shore. Piden tomar precauciones al entrar al agua. By Sept. 2, of 2016, 73 drowning deaths had occurred. At this pace we will likely have 100 Great Lakes drownings in 2020. The water was relatively calm Thursday, though that is expected to change for the weekend. Of the 562 fatal drownings that weve reported since 2010, only 5 of them were wearing life jackets Thats less than 1%, says Pratt. Share: In light of civil litigation from the 2020 Kenosha protests, we learn more about wrongful death lawsuits. GLSRP has tracked drownings throughout the five Great Lakes since 2010.So far in 2020 there have been 30 Great Lakes drownings and four victims that were taken to the hospital and listed in critical condition or condition unknown. He was with several others when he slipped and fell into the water around 5 a.m. near the 2600 block of North Cannon Drive, Chicago officials said. One of the hardest things to film was the moms talking about their kids, (holding) their photos, said Jeremy Marble, an MLive videographer who served as director of photography for the project. A final decision on whether to keep the lifeguards on New Buffalo beaches will be made at a public hearing at the end of May. A water safety nonprofit group has found that the number of drownings decreased this swim season on Lake Michigan compared with last year. Sunk on August 21. None of the Great Lakes drowning victims in 2017, for instance, were wearing a life jacket. 05/21/2020 News Dispatch Budget woes, lack of applicants mean no lifeguards at Washington Park MICHIGAN CITY Visitors to the lakefront at Washington Park are advised to swim at their own risk this summer, as the city has not hired lifeguards for the season. You wouldnt try to put your seatbelt on during a car crash. Joseph R. ODonnell*, M-45, was found in the water near the Edgewater Yacht Club by Edgewater Park. Largest freshwater lake in the world, one inch of surface water is equal to 553 billion gallons. Pratt says, more than 20 people in Michigan have died after drowning this year alone. Great Lakes drownings in 2019 (As of July 24, 2019): GLSRP says since 2010, 784 people have lost their lives in Lakes Michigan, Superior, Huron, Erie and Ontario. While the general assumption may be that, if the 2020 death rate exceeds that of previous years . Float. All five family members were wearing life vests and had paddles. Office Party Entertainment Ideas in Denver Colorado . In 2017, the GLSRP is tracking 88 Great Lakes drownings. 05/23/2019 Chicago Tribune Going to the beach can be dangerous. Year: 2022. 06/19/2017 WZZM VERIFY: Is Lake Michigan the deadliest Great Lake? Minutes pass while you establish your location and get emergency responders to the scene. The nonprofit issued a warning that walking on shelf ice is extremely dangerous after it received reports of two groups of people walking on shelf ice near Garys shoreline last weekend. 2, 2023 at 4:28 AM PST. Benjamin said with the drowning of 16-year old boy, Angel Sedano of Gurnee, Ill., on Sunday, the number of Great Lakes drownings since 2010 is now 643, almost half of which occur in Lake Michigan. About 85 percent of them are men. A task force put together after the girls drowning recommended this spring that the Park District extend lifeguard hours, but noted that the district and Chicago Public Schools also are working to expand lifeguard training, because not enough lifeguards are available. But with high water levels and erosion leading to smaller beach fronts, many are packing in, leading to increased concern over water safety. Its really great to see that the Port Sheldon beach came through with their promise to install some of their water safety signage as well as some safety equipment, says Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project executive director, Dave Benjamin. The GLSRP offers the following reminders for those heading to the water over the holiday weekend: 05/24/2019 Star Beacon Take care when boating Many people will be getting their boats out on the water for the first time this weekend. While some news outlets are claiming Lake Michigan saw fewer drowning deaths this past summer season than in 2016, Dave Benjamin, executive director of public relations and project management for Great Lakes Surf and Rescue Project, says people need to look at the big picture, not just during peak swimming months. It has a volume of 2,900 cubic miles (12,000 cubic kilometers), making it the third most voluminous in the world. 201712/13/2017 Michigan State University Extension, Michigan Sea Grant Great Lakes waves can make lake viewing dangerous Dont get swept away this winter while sightseeing near the Great Lakes. The cold water plays a part, the wind and waves cause a part, so unfortunately it turns out to be a tragic situation, says Pratt. GREAT LAKES, USA In 2019 the GLSRP tracked 97 Great Lakes drownings. He says the average beach-goer doesnt know enough about water safety. A fully staffed Bradford Beach would have 14 lifeguards working seven days a week for 10 weeks at a total cost of $70,000. The weight of all five in the 13 ft. kayak was 442 pounds, just under its 500-poundcapacity. The organization doesnt track inner-water drownings, like on rivers. Of the 2018 drownings, 117 were in Lake Michigan, including six in Northwest Indiana and two in Michigan City. Our son passed away here almost two years ago, and theyre installing a plaque in his memory along with those safety changes., He was out here at the beach with some friends and unfortunately came under the water and he didnt come up, said James. He did not resurface. MUNSING, Mich. (WLUC) - UPDATE: The body of the second kayaker that died on Lake Superior near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore was recovered on Friday . Right now, the beach is temporarily closed due to hazardous conditions from erosion. The diver was with a commercial dive group on the boat the Aquatica, operated by Windy City Diving, according to the Coast Guard. If you go to a beach and you see red flags flying and hundreds of people in the water, what message does that send? Benjamin said. A viral post claimed that Lake Superior "has three quadrillion gallons of COLD water," which was "so cold, a dead body will never float to the surface, because the water is never warm enough to grow the bacteria needed to cause a body to float.". Bob Pratt, one of the two people who runs the project says there have been at least 640 drownings on the Great Lakes since 2010. Add in record high Lake Michigan water levels, which can create bigger waves and stronger rip currents, plus erosion that has reduced the size of some beaches, and its no wonder Great Lakes water safety officials are worried. The film also features NDPA Community Lifesaver Award winner Dave Benjamin, of Homewood, and drowning survivors Evelyn Hernandez, of Chicago, and Jamie Racklyeft, of Ann Arbor. Waves of 2 to 4 feet had been forecast for the lake Monday, with wind gusts up to 20 mph, resulting in potentially dangerous conditions for boaters and swimmers.
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