Overall it was a deadly weekend on the Great Lakes, with at least a dozen drownings reported, three in Lake Michigan. Weve made a pretty good effort to try and deal with it, Angeli added. 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. Emily MacDonald, F-19, from Columbus, MI. Were utilizing our social media pages to post conditions. 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. I was panicking. Its very tragic.. This follows 2020, when 56 people drowned in Lake Michigan, setting a new high. Last year there were 97 drownings on the Great Lakes roughly half on Lake Michigan and a record 117 in 2018. You could also blame the heat. 06/19/2017 WSBT 22 BerrienCounty holding water rescue and emergency drill at Silver Beach ST. JOSEPH, Mi. She also serves as a peer counselor for staff and visitors in times of tragedies or rescue operations. 11/01/2020 SUP Connect SUP BASICS: WHATS YOUR SWIM SCORE? I appreciate the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project for coming to MCAS, because the more kids who are exposed to this information, the fewer water-related accidents well have.. 09/25/2019 The Great Lakes Echo Would lifeguards make the Great Lakes safer? 08/01/2017 Harbor County News Matthew Ramirez, M-4 a 4-year-old boy fighting for his life after being pulled from Lake Michigan at Warren Dunes State Park on Tuesday afternoon. He was pulled from the water, taken to the hospital and died. His body was recovered less than two weeks later. It was a simple solution that became very complex. , M-38 His body was pulled from Montrose Harbor, hours after a person went missing in the water in Chicagos Playpen area of Lake Michigan Wednesday night, according to CPD. The odd yet peaceful calm. 06/05/2017 Fox News Chicago Whiting Open Water Surf Lifeguard In-service Training. Water safety conference to address ways to improve safety, education and more Learn why drownings in the Great Lakes were up 78 percent last year and what you can do about it. Read the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Projects full drowning summary atwww.glsrp.org/statistics. The flag system is absolutely not enough, said Executive Director Dave Benjamin. 09/23/2020 Chicago Sun-Times Three other people have drowned this year in Monroe Harbor. Officials began a search by 6p.m. A U.S. Geological Research Vessel, the Kiyi, saw a light in the distance, and found Mews with the kayak. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. 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. The CPD Marine Unit is still searching for that person. Benjamin cautioned that most drownings dont look like what happens in a movie people dont wave their arms and thrash around. They should have said something, a 10 year old was just pulled out of the water lifeless. The presentation is hosted by Chesterton Girl Scouts Troop 30373. 07/10/2020 The Game 730 AM DANGEROUS SWIMMING CONDITIONS TODAY ON LAKE MICHIGAN, 07/10/2020 Northwest Indiana Times Beach swimming advisory extended into Saturday; storms to bring strong winds to Region, NWS says. But we got no replies.. Keep in mind that summer is still three weeks away, officially. 57 ranks well ahead of the TCL 6-Series's 2. 07/15/2019 WZZM 13 Water safety advocates continue push to bring back lifeguards on Michigan beaches The drowning of a boy in South Haven has ignited the debate again if Michigan beaches need lifeguards. 11/24/2017 Petoskey News Preventing people from jumping from the pierheads on Lake Michigan is the best action to take. Share on Social Sites. 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. Everyone went into the water. 01/13/2020 WBCK FM Six Ways High Lake Levels Can Kill You 3. Lake Michigan is vulnerable to dangerous waves and currents, Rodriguez said. Lake Superior, Canada side, the Comet. Water safety is not common sense., Benjamin said, in his opinion, thats where lifeguards are critical. He was brought to shore where life-saving efforts were started and then transported in critical condition to Franciscan Health Michigan City hospital. The month of May would also be declared as Lake Michigan Safety Awareness Month.. A cargo and passenger steam ship that suffered a number of maritime accidents before its final wreck into the Manitoba in Whirefish Bay. First, put on your personal flotation device and dress for the water temperature, which in Lake Erie Monday was about 38 degrees. According to Cook County Medical Examiners office, the diver, David OShaughnessy, died of asphyxia. We are creating the illusion of providing a lifeguard service, which I dont think is fair to the community or to the beach users.. The lifeguards at the state park are trained to watch for rip currents and shut down swimming if they spot them, she added. Summary. So, in case something does happen, and they get caught up in a current, thats just extra protection for them just in case, said Petty Officer Dennis Whartnaby with the Sturgeon Bay Coast Guard. Benjamin said he hopes to eradicate tragedy with the mantra: Flip, float, follow. Dave Benjamin, executive director of public relations and project management for the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, said family members who have lost a loved one often talk about how the drowning victim was physically fit and a good swimmer. 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. 06/05/2017 ABC 7 Weather service warns of high waves at Chicago beaches It was training day for lifeguards at Whihala Beach in Whiting, Ind., where the strong winds and choppy waters actually created the ideal conditions for water safety education. The first girl might have been OK, but the second girl definitely would not. Bokun never once thought about the dangers of hypothermia while swimming under a waterfall, especially in springtime in Tennessee. of Lake Elmo, MN and Wascott, WI died January 4, 2023, in Regions Hospital in St . 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. Her efforts, which include water safety classes for Madison and Ashtabula students in partnership with the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, earned her the honor as the Great Lakes Water Safety Consortium 2016 Water Safety Superhero of the Year. (Link in article.). 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. [SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK is a Fallacy!] And those life-saving devices work. He talked about several tips to stay safe. Overall since 2010, the GLSRP has tracked 740 Great Lakes drownings. During this time students will learn the following safety tips to practice when in and around the water: Only swim when and where there is a lifeguard on duty; never swim alone. 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. In addition theres the lost revenue for closing the beach and negative publicity to overcome with the drowning. Everyone is still missing., He replied,You need to be strong for them. Then, follow a safe path out of the water. 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. 08/20/2018 Hawaii News There have been 64 drownings in the Great Lakes this year so far, with Lake Erie accounting for the most deaths. While that is a step in the right direction, one life lost to drowning is too many. As of April 9, there have been five drownings in the Great Lakes so far in 2020, three in Lake Michigan. 10/01/2018 Buffalo News For Erie and the Great Lakes as a whole, 2018 ties a deadly record This year has been Western New Yorks deadliest for drownings in Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. If a lifeguard has a bad day, someone might lose their life.. County Supervisor Sheldon Wasserman said the drownings at McKinley Beach could have been prevented. 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. All five family members were wearing life vests and had paddles. The Coast Guard says an experienced diver, 45-year-old male, was coming out of the water on a ladder and was having a tough time and then dropped back into the lake. During the entire week of spring break, Kenoshas YMCA is offering free swim safety lessons. Ultimately, the children needed to be rescued. It has currents; it has waves; it has wind.. 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. For more information on water and pier safety, the Great Lakes Beach & Pier Safety Task Forces video, Respect the Power, is a great resource. Melissa Zirkle, of Madison, who is organizing the fundraising dinner, said she reached out to the Nugent family because she knew from experience their biggest need, aside from prayers, was help with funeral expenses. 09/20/2019 Capital News Service Would lifeguards make the Great Lakes safer? [*Unfortunately there were some misquoted or misunderstood information during the interview. 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. I think that was something that made the park run a lot smoother, Baughman said, adding people didnt understand why that section of the beach was closed. A lifeguards job is to get to the drowning victim before the submersion, interrupt the drowning process, provide flotation and bring the victim back to shore alive, he said. Leaders are trying to teach people water safety. 06/26/2020 Grand Haven Tribune Swimmers, boaters asked to prepare before heading out on Lake Michigan Push for lifeguards on beaches. Office Party Entertainment Ideas in Denver Colorado . 2023 FOX Television Stations, from SUN 9:00 AM CST until MON 12:00 PM CST, Clay County, Norman County, Wilkin County, Gov. 09/11/2019 Cleveland.com After kayaker death, Cuyahoga River Safety Task Force talks safety measures, 08/31/2019 WNEM 5 How to stay safe in the water this Labor Day weekend, 08/31/2019 Mining Journal High water Officials urge caution at beaches, breakwaters, harbors, marinas, 08/30/2019 WSBT Experts talk about how to stay safe in the water for Labor Day weekend. 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. Since 2010, there have been 714 Great Lakes drownings. 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. 10/08/2022 TOWN OF EVANS, N.Y. Lake Erie Beach Park Point Breeze area John Doe, M-48 According to police, a man was pulled from the water and citizens at the scene initiated resuscitation efforts. In 2019 the GLSRP is tracking 44 Great Lakes drownings; 22 of those in Lake Michigan. 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. A search is underway for Jacob Sandy, 23, last seen heading onto Lake Michigan to kayak. Indiana Dunes State Park, which has a large swath of beach in front of the pavilion, expanded its lifeguard corps last year to cover more territory, said property manager Brandt Baughman. It may mean theres high wind or high waves or theres no lifeguard on duty.. As of Tuesday, the GLSRP had confirmed 91 drownings in the Great Lakes this year, including 31 on Lake Michigan. Drownings on Lake Ontario occurred at popular beaches within a short drive of Toronto. Even with lifeguards at many beaches, the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project expects to see an increase in drownings this summer. Time matters in a drowning incident.. 09/06/2018 WGN 720 AM Water Safety with Dave Benjamin Tonight on The Patti Vasquez Show with Andrea Darlas: To discuss water safety and to share some tips to stay safe we welcome Dave Benjamin (Director of Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, Halle Quezada, creator of the Chicago Alliance for Waterfront Safety, and John Kocher, co-founder of the Matthew Kocher Foundation). Their mother survived. We feel its for the best for the safety. Southernly winds blowing this weekend can cause offshore wind conditions for Indiana, side-offshore winds for northern Illinois, southwest Wisconsin, and southeast Michigan. The toughest thing to do if youre caught in a rip current is to swim directly to shore, Oudeman said. A capsized catamaran-style boat in was spotted in Lake Michigan near East Chicago shortly after 10:30 a.m. Monday. Thats according to a tally by the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, a nonprofit water safety group that keeps a comprehensive database of Great Lakes drownings. Water levels are higher, beaches are thinner and more people will be converging at beaches for outdoor recreation. The plan does not, however, include an updated water condition warning system for park visitors. I was drowning. Drowning is a huge, huge problem. That was the sobering message Barker Middle School students received at the beach this week via Bob Pratt, the executive director of education for the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. Daniel Saik, 66, of Niagara Falls, Ont., whose body was recovered Aug. 31 along the lake shoreline in Burt. 07/17/2018 WNDU Facebook Live Beach Safety, 07/17/2018 WNDU How to know if its safe to swim in Lake Michigan, 07/17/2018 Holland Sentinel Second man drowns in Allegan County in two days. CHICAGO unreported SCUBA death off the shipwreck of the Wells Burt, part of a charter diver operation. Really rough to see these boats out here and relive what we did five years ago, Foster said. The presentation will include information about drowning statistics; the signs of drowning; survival strategies, including flip, float, follow; how, why and where dangerous currents occur; basic water rescue; and basic water resuscitation. 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. Published: Sep. 17, 2021 at 11:14 AM PDT. This is a lot different than a pool. Some floats are equipped with live cameras and signals that allow 911 dispatchers to recognize that the device has been activated at a specific location. And it wont stop them as summer emerges. He said people should flip to face up and float to control breathing, calm themselves and find an escape route to follow. Its not common knowledge that 66% of all drowning victims were good strong confident swimmers. It's made Thunder Bay the highest per capita opioid death rate in Ontario. The kayakers were reported missing Thursday evening at Michigan . Lake Superior Fun Facts. We are two weeks away from that date and so far this year the number stands at 63. As an EMT and Lifeguard, he knows that drowning is preventable, especially in the sport of Stand Up Paddle Boarding. Bubba was 17 years old and passed away due to liver disease on August . You change the attitude and position of the bow which causes more water to come under the bow, which could cause someone to think they were sinking, Schmidt said. This is why lifeguards are so important. You know there have been drownings over the years, but its not until you start adding them up that you go, Wow, she said. 06/21/2017 ABC 7 Floating water park set to open on Lake Michigan in Whiting, Indiana The $300,000 floating playground is a result of a joint venture between the city and the private company. They believe its the best approach to spreading information quickly, having completed more than 450 presentations in seven of the eight Great Lakes states. Currents caused by wind or structures like piers can make swimming in the lakes dangerous. Our goal is to prevent Great Lakes drownings through training, public preparedness, and public awareness.. Unfortunately, a drowning person can climb all over you, and a drowning person can take you under, Benjamin said. 09/08/2017 Post-Tribune Sand, surf season ends with no drownings at lakefront parks. 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. The DNR called it a tragic accident; the contributing factors: overloading of the kayak, operator inexperience and passenger behavior. Part of the problem, according to Benjamin, is that people dont know what they dont know. The greatest increase in drownings were in Lake Michigan with 37 deaths, an increase of 14 deaths over the historical average of 23. 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.. Theres this thing called the stigma of drowning, Benjamin said. Besides the usual cold waters this time of year (though Lake Superior can be warmer than the air temps in winter), the Corps pointed to three areas of concern: Submerged Structures. Add the city and county resources and you can run almost $500,000 a day for a single body recovery.. In 2018, 44 people died of opioid overdose in Thunder Bay.