07/31/2019 Rogers Edge Reporter Wave Warning Once Again on Lakefront Beaches, 07/31/2019 FOX News 11 Great Lakes water levels raise breakwater safety concerns, 07/31/2019 WMUK 102.1 Safety Group Says Great Lakes Drownings Are Preventable, 07/30/2019 Duluth Tribune Lake Michigan drownings up 80% from this time last year. Nearly 750 people have drowned in the Great Lakes since tracking began in 2010. After 10 minutes underwater there is about a 14 percent revival rate, and most will be left with a traumatic brain injury, Benjamin said. Its not a rescue anymore; its a recovery., Common misconceptions about drownings dont help, either. And on a stand-up paddle board, he says, attach the leash to your ankle, which helps you to retrieve the board after you fall off. In Lake Michigan so far this year, 33 people have drowned. Im overwhelmed with pride in everyone coming together. It becomes a frantic search.. Thats because the bodys instant response to cold water is to gasp. 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. Nugent died Aug. 22 at MetroHealth Medical Center after getting caught in dangerous waves the day before at Walnut Beach. Benjamin cites the 1-10-1 rule of hypothermia for anyone considering a swim in dangerously cold waters: One minute to control your breathing, 10 minutes until you are unable to move, one hour for hypothermia to set in. 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. Promote Your Business; Opinion. Winds often affect local water levels, dramatically increasing levels during storms. Its going to continue to be a leading cause of accidental death until we start to look at the bigger picture, said Benjamin. And most drownings happen during this most dangerous time of the year, when frigid water incapacitates people who accidentally fall in. Benjamin said lifeguards stationed at the beach would be able to respond more quickly to a drowning or a missing child situation than emergency services. There are also another 5 outcomes who are unknown on the other lakes. 07/28/2020 Traverse City Record Eagle Torch Lake death adds to list of water-related fatalities 07/26/2020 Richard Church, M-57, 07/27/2020 WTTW 11 CHICAGO TONIGHT With Beaches Closed, Experts Warn of Increased Risk for Drowning. A push for safety Saturday was the culmination of a week of water safety events organized by the Safety Around Water (SAW) coalition in partnership with the city, Kenosha Unified School District and the local police and fire departments. That means there may be bacterial contamination. A 12th drowning was reported on Lake Ontario. About 300 more presentations are scheduled this year, with 100 of those in Northwest Indiana, he said. Date of the Accident: 08/30/2022. Their swimming endurance may be down, even if their confidence is not, he said. A rescue flotation device also now hangs along the boardwalk to the beach access, just beneath Brandon Schmidts memorial plaque. Water safety is not common sense, yet most people assume it is common sense and that is one of the reasons why drowning continues to be a neglected public health issue.. The phase two plan covers at least the next decade of management strategies and upgrades that will help the Department of Natural Resources protect and preserve the parks natural and cultural resources as well as provide access to public recreation and education. 08/11/2017 My Sheboygan Sheboygan resident and surfer Larry Williams talks about water safety. 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. Thats why you need a survival strategy. Or how many lives may have been saved. 06/11/2020 WNDU TV 16 Safety reminders on avoiding beach hazards this summer, 06/11/2020 WNDU TV 16 Great Lakes Beach Hazard & Safety Awareness Week. 09/05/2019 CRITICAL CONDITION CHICAGO, IL NORTH AVENUE BEACH Jane Doe hospitalized after being pulled from Lake Michigan at North Avenue Beach. Flip-float-follow is the stop-drop-and-roll of water safety, said Benjamin, with the emphasis on float. 34 people drowned in Great Lakes this year, officials say - WDIV However, he soon got into trouble as well. Benjamin said, Learning how to swim isnt enough. Learning survival skills in a water emergency should start with children in school, he said. Weve made a pretty good effort to try and deal with it, Angeli added. He woke Friday morning to find he couldnt get back to shore because 3- to 4-foot waves were crashing over the walkway. They give the impression that they are able to protect people when they go into the water and thats not the case, said David Richards, city manager. Hawke said it would be great to have the funds to pay for lifeguards. On July 7, Ameera Muhammad, 24, of Bronzeville drowned after swimming in the harbor during bad weather, officials said. Its about time, said Maria Rasch of Kenosha. Benjamin calls drownings a public health crisis. He pointed out at Tuesdays city council meeting they had trained rescue professionals in the water trying to find Young, but it was so bad that some of them got into trouble. Were not often playing with fire, but we are often playing in water, Benjamin said. Everyone went into the water. The average elevation of Lake Superior is about 183 meters (600 feet) above sea level. Indiana conservation officials credited Myles Wright and Devin Newton with saving two young girls from drowning, the News Dispatch reported. 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. ], We do such a great job teaching kids about fire safety, tornado drills, earthquakes, school shooters; but the fact of the matter is that drowning kills more people than all of those things combined, Pratt said. The message is to Flip, Float and Follow in a water emergency. Boater safety courses are one of the most important things you should do before heading out on a boat, Maxey said. 08/01/2019 WWMT Lake Michigan drownings up 80% over last year, 08/01/2019 NBC 25 News Ascension Genesys Health Club explains rip current danger. Please join us in enjoying them with care. 07/05/2018 Pioneer Press Water recreation can be fun, but also dangerous FRANKFORT While people turn to the water to get relief from the summer heat, it can also be dangerous, especially on Lake Michigan. The DNR called it a tragic accident; the contributing factors: overloading of the kayak, operator inexperience and passenger behavior. 74 drownings in 201087 in 201199 in 201267 in 201354 in 201455 in 201599 in 201688 in 2017117 to date in 2018740 since 2010, To date in 2018 by Lake:43 in Lake Michigan5 in Lake Superior8 in Lake Huron36 in Lake Erie25 in Lake Ontario117 to date in 2018, 625 Great Lakes Drownings since 2010 (+/-). The kayakers were reported missing Thursday evening at Michigan . Lake Superior is the largest, cleanest, and wildest of all the Great Lakes. COVID-19 Research and Innovation Guidance, Pandemic behind increased drownings on Great Lakes beaches, research suggests, Pursue strengths in research and graduate education. His first novel, The Treasure of Namakagon (2012), features a boy in an 1883 northern . 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. 09/03/2020 NBC 5 Body Recovered From Monroe Harbor Four Days Into Search For Missing Boater The body is believed to be that of a 32-year-old man who fell off a boat Sunday evening in the harbor near the 400 block of East Monroe Street, police said. Her father, a 28-year-old Kenosha man who didnt know how to swim, entered the water to save her. Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes. There are two rings at the lifeguard station, but thats set back from the water, Benjamin noted. 04/19/2014 CBS 2 Chicago Lake Michigan Drownings Spike In 2016 The number of drownings in Lake Michigan spiked 84 percent in 2016, compared with the previous year, according to a water safety advocacy group. Sometime before 4p.m. the weather turned, the water became rocky and the kayak began to take on water. But, out of the 582 drownings since 2010, only five wore life jackets all of whom died because they were in really cold water for a prolonged time, says Bob Pratt, the projects director of education. Water temperatures are in the 50s at the south end of Lake Michigan, and swimmers are advised not to jump off boats or piers. The city doesnt have a policy in place for closing the beach on the weekend when the staff is off, and White said thats the situation they got into on Sunday with Young. I dove down and got him off of the bottom of the lake, got him on a Coast Guard boat, and we transported him, and hes alive today. He said he hopes that this summer will be safer as people become educated to the dangers of Lake Michigan and Tuesdays training helps lifeguard teams to properly respond. The organization doesnt track inner-water drownings, like on rivers. 09/19/2019 WWMT New life jacket loaner station hopes to curb Lake Michigan drownings Safe Kids of Greater South Haven, led by Bronson South Haven Hospital, spearheaded the project. I always tell people three things that precipitate an incident. Its not rocket science. Others on the boat were unfamiliar with its operation and were not able to get the boat turned around before Forsythe disappeared under the water. Lifeguards are trained to watch, theyre trained to know what drowning looks like and theyre trained to get to victims in less than 60 seconds and bring them a flotation device.. The $4.6 million draft includes designing and constructing a new bathroom building, installing an automated parking notification system and making accessibility improvements. Their best thing wouldve been to stay with the kayak. 05/29/2020 Chicago Tribune Column: Near-drowning experience prompts Hobart man to alert others to summertime hazard as beaches reopen. Thirty people have drowned in the Great Lakes during 2017 and 16 of those incidents happened in Lake Michigan. (Read my previous column on Indiana Dunes State Park beach last weekend as an example.). Lifeguards are first responders and just as important as police and firefighters, he said Were a huge advocate for lifeguards. The GIS map below can also be found here. If you want to survive a drowning incident, you have to stay at the surface and continue breathing, by treading water and floating or having a flotation device with you, he said. (Note: * = (+/-) Awaiting 100% confirmation of drowning.) With the new attraction set to open this weekend, Bob Pratt and Dave Benjamin of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project spent the day teaching summer campers and kids about proper water safety. Its for this reason that after Martins death, the city checked the beachs condition each morning to see if it was safe to open. If you are headed to a Great Lakes shoreline to walk out on a breakwater, climb some nearshore rocks, or jog along a lakeshore path, its important to know what the predicted wave and wind patterns will be for the day. A capsized catamaran-style boat in was spotted in Lake Michigan near East Chicago shortly after 10:30 a.m. Monday. The GLSRP is awaiting updates on these incidences. 250787 Obituaries. 05/24/2019 The News Dispatch Lake safety part of curriculum Lake Michigan can be dangerous After the deadliest year on the Great Lakes in 2018, the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project is reminding swimmers and beach-goers to be safe when in or near the water. Boys dont know that, moms dont know that. If someone is drowning, they can find the life ring on the pier. said Dave Benjamin, executive director of the organization. On Sept. 3, divers found the body of 32-year-old man in the water, days after he went into Lake Michigan from a boat. Thats almost twice as many as I 2015. Its the only organization collecting data for all drownings across all of the Great Lakes. Public education is the missing piece of the puzzle for water safety, Benjamin said. The vessel's wreck was discovered in 1972 and is one of the most remarkable and well-preserved wrecks in Lake Superior. Its really more of an inland sea than just a lake, Pratt said. Knowing the statistics helps look for who is more likely to get into trouble. He said it was a question for the City Council. Know your limits. Its called a life jacket, for a reason. 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. A person who is drowning will usually be facing shore, their mouth will be at water level and may have their head tipped back. It is not known if these drowning victims survived. 07/09/2020 Chicago Tribune Too many people are drowning. 04/14/2017 PR Tinley Park Parents Win National Drowning Prevention Alliance Lifesaver of the Year Award for water safety advocacy after sons Lake Michigan drowning Announces Illinois Water Safety School Presentations May 8 12. The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project is another resource for water safety. It is sponsored by ArcelorMittal. 10/10/2022 MONROE COUNTY, MI 7:18 p.m. SWIMMING Corey Michael Carrabino, M-49, of Monroe He was swimming in the swim area at Sterling State Park in Frenchtown Township. Office Party Entertainment Ideas in Denver Colorado . 08/22/2018 WLS 890 AM the John Howell and Ray Stevens show Live Water Safety Segment, Online here:http://player.listenlive.co/22231/Call in with your questions, comments, and concerns too!!! Drowning is swift, it doesnt look the way Hollywood portrays it, said Benjamin. We already knew that we were going to be tight financially, he said. 12/24/2019 WWMT Top 3 West Michigan weather stories of 2019 New statistics from the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project showed Lake Michigan drowning deaths were up compared to 2018. The 21-year-old was found unresponsive in the water just before 2 a.m. in the 1000 block of North DuSable Lake Shore Drive, according to Chicago police. This summer we could see the perfect storm for drownings in the Great Lakes region. said Dave Benjamin, executive director of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. You flip on your back and you float float to keep your head above water, float to conserve your energy, and float to calm yourself down from the fear and panic of drowning and then follow the safest path out of the water. The reason a person who is dead in the water floats to the surface is because there is bacteria on and within our body. The deadliest part of the lake in Michigan is in the southwest part of the state, down around the Indiana border. Overall since 2010, the GLSRP has tracked 740 Great Lakes drownings. He explains that although the higher water levels dont change the way lifeguards are trained, crowded beaches due to the changing beach lines make it harder for lifeguards to monitor the open water. The . 06/06/2017 ABC 57 Training session for Lake Michigan lifeguards Lake Michigan lifeguards participated in an open water surf lifeguard training session Tuesday, June 6th in Michigan City. 09/04/2018 Journal Sentinel The body of a swimmer from Franklin who disappeared in Lake Michigan two weeks ago has been found, authorities reported Tuesday. The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project reports there have already been 30 Great Lakes drownings this year and more than half of those were in Lake Michigan. 08/29/2019 Univision Revelan preocupante cifra por ahogamientos en el lago Michigan en lo que va del 2019. 06/04/2019 Interlochen Public Radio Record number of drowning deaths in Great Lakes last year. 10/15/2020 Ludington Daily News Is Lake Michigan the most dangerous Great Lake? Deaths | Wisconsin Department of Health Services 06/19/2017 WZZM VERIFY: Is Lake Michigan the deadliest Great Lake? Most deaths occurred on Saturdays, suggesting people were visiting beaches close to home, not away on holiday. 08/25/2019 WLS 7 Chicago Beach Hazard in effect for 5th day; 2 drown in Lake Michigan over weekend, O8/25/2019 CBS 2 Chicago Potentially Life-Threatening Waves, Currents Persist On Lake Michigan, 08/25/2019 WLS 7 Chicago 2 men drown in Lake Michigan over weekend; 14 rescued after boat capsizes, 08/23/2019 NBC KWQC Illinois man dies while trying to save girl in Lake Michigan, 08/23/2019 News Dispatch Body found off West Beach in Porter County, 08/23/2019 WBEZ 10:05:37 AM: Ireland jumped into grab her but was overwhelmed by the waves by cards Rescue the girl to the D.A. Monitoring for other issues also is key, he said. Since then, hes advocated for people to always wear properly fitted life jackets and take as many safety classes as possible, and then bigger tasks, like requiring retailers to sell life jackets with recreational watercraft, like paddle boards and kayaks. 05/26/2017 Pantagraph Experts urge safety on, near water One problem is people dont know what drowning looks like, says Dave Benjamin of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. 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. Keeping in mind three simple steps if you find yourself in dangerous water can be a life saver. Eighty percent of drowning victims are male, he said. Its nonstop. As an EMT and Lifeguard, he knows that drowning is preventable, especially in the sport of Stand Up Paddle Boarding. The water erosion and debris is out of control. 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.". 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. Specifically, as stay-at-home orders were lifted and residents were able to visit the beach, there was an increase in the number of drownings close to the main city centres.. Dave Benjamin, executive director of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, told me that the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk is a hazard for potential drownings. Officials said 16 people drowned in Lake Michigan in 2021 and six people drowned in each of Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. He went underwater and never resurfaced. As the winds travel farther north, the winds will also create waves and dangerous currents such as long-shore currents, rip currents and structural currents, Benjamin said. 06/06/2018 CBS News of the Day Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project; Lake Michigan Water Safety Presentation in Ogden Dunes June 16th. 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. She discussed the citys cash flow projections through September and other additional revenues, noting that if the casino and park were to remain closed throughout the summer, the Municipal Fund would go into the red by October unless the city were to borrow from itself or another source. Caty was found unresponsive near Crescent Beach in the late afternoon of July 21. I want to get the word out and make this a wonderful turnout for this incredible deserving family.. But White is resistant to that idea. Overall since 2010, there have been at least 747 Great Lakes drownings. Even the gold letters of the ship's nameplate are still . As Coronavirus cabin fever mixes with summer excitment, many people want to get out and jump in the pool or lake. It has a volume of 2,900 cubic miles (12,000 cubic kilometers), making it the third most voluminous in the world. The man was fortunate because Sunday was one of the last days lifeguards were on duty this season. 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. 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. 02/19/2018 WLS 7 Dangerous shelf ice forms along Lake Michigan. Piden tomar precauciones al entrar al agua. Mr. Magoo remained at the Duluth zoo until his death in 1968. It is the biggest lake in the world (by surface area), so it will come as no surprise that it has been nicknamed "The Freshwater Sea.". 08/22/2018 WGN 720 AM The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project and great water safety tips WGN Radios Patti Vasquez is joined by Dave Benjamin, Director of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project to discuss water safety and how you can stay safe while swimming during your aquatic fun. Statistics - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration If there is a light offshore wind, it could blow the inflatable object into deeper water where the child or parent could go after it. And when they go after it, he says, swimmers can end up in currents or winds that make it impossible to return. The U.S. Coast Guard on Saturday suspended the search for a man who reportedly fell off a boat in Sandusky Bay Friday night. 09/08/2017 Post-Tribune Sand, surf season ends with no drownings at lakefront parks. County Parks officials said funding for lifeguards is included in its budget request for next year, but it does not include McKinley Beach. The surviving crew members were rescued by SS Scott, which resulted in fewer deaths than estimated. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. 11/02/2018 Bridge Michigan Great Lakes drownings peaked in 2018. Since 2010, 631 people have drowned in the five Great Lakes; and 295 of those drowned in Lake Michigan. If (LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers star forward) has a bad day, he might not win the game. Top 10 Facts About Lake Superior - Northern Ontario Travel Link in story. Its not common knowledge that 66% of all drowning victims were good strong confident swimmers. Theres a stigma of drowning. 07/10/2018 WDIO Thursday at Ten: Under Water: Searching for Air According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Program, there have been 660 Great Lakes drownings since 2010, and there have been 37 already this year. Wrongful death lawsuits, Algae blooms in winter Drownings occur in the Great Lakes every year. In 2019, Grand Haven State Park and City Beach posted numbered area signs to help get first responders where they are needed more quickly. Which can mean someone who is fine or someone about to slip beneath the surface. Place an Obituary. A water safety school curriculum needs to be mandated and funded in the Great Lakes region as well as nationwide. In all, 99 people have died so far in 2018 on the Great Lakes, tying 2012 and 2016 for the highest number of deaths on record, data from the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project shows.