Men are less likely to take safety precautions, Pratt said. Since 2010, 631 people have drowned in the five Great Lakes; and 295 of those drowned in Lake Michigan. According to statistics from the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, 23 people have died in Lake Erie between the start of the year and Aug. 19. After a record year for drownings in Lake Michigan in 2020, the number of drownings in the lake and across the Great Lakes waterways are up year over year as of July 4, 2021. Floating can calm people down. White said the city has placed an order to erect six signs along the beach with information on rip currents and what to do in an emergency situation. Its not about you, and what answers you want to get, its about them telling their story.. The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project http://www.glsrp.org/ is another resource for water safety. Instead, drownings are subtle and look like someone with their head above water. Add the city and county resources and you can run almost $500,000 a day for a single body recovery.. The DNR called it a tragic accident; the contributing factors: overloading of the kayak, operator inexperience and passenger behavior. According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, on average almost half of all Great Lakes drownings happen in Lake Michigan. 2023 FOX Television Stations, from SUN 9:00 AM CST until MON 12:00 PM CST, Clay County, Norman County, Wilkin County, Gov. The nonprofit annually tracks drownings in the Great Lakes and recently issued a warning about a summer spike in deaths. Pratt says, drowning is the leading cause of accidental deaths in children ranging in age from 1 to 4. Officials say EMS performed CPR as they rushed the man to the hospital. 08/24/1018 Cleveland.com Ashtabula teen dies after being caught in Lake Erie waves Nugent was not swimming alone on Tuesday, according to a GoFundMe to support his family. 05/28/2020 NWI Times Pandemic squashes hiring of lifeguards, officials say; safety advocates contend dangers ahead, 05/28/2020 Journal Sentinel Wisconsins closed pools, lack of beach lifeguards and high water levels create the perfect storm for Great Lakes drownings. Its not like the movies, with a lot of splashing and yelling, he said. 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. And float, Benjamin would add. It doesnt do you any good if your life jacket just sits in the boat. The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project began keeping a record of the deaths in Lake Michigan ever since 2010 and by 2020 more deaths occurred than any other year. The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project is another resource for water safety. Deaths: 10. Our visitors have come to expect lifeguards at Washington Park. My heart goes out to his family, our team, and anyone who had the pleasure of knowing Mike. 07/17/2019 North Cook News GLENCOE PARK DISTRICT: Glencoe Park District launched Beach S.A.F.E. 06/04/2019 Interlochen Public Radio Record number of drowning deaths in Great Lakes last year. Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk is just one example of the devastating impact higher water levels have had on shorelines across the area. A life ring is one of the easiest ways to save a drowning victim, especially off a pier. Officials identified the man pulled from Montrose Harbor as Francisco Gonzalez, and said he is not the same person who went missing in the Playpen Wednesday night. Just keep your head above water and keep your chest at the water level. 07/07/2019 ABC 7 Newsviews: Water Safety The weather has finally warmed up and maybe youve spent time at the beach this weekend. . Brandon Schmidts mother, Brandi Donley, turned grief into resolve, and then action. Eighty percent of drowning victims are male, he said. 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. 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. Nearly all of the 30,000 people the organization surveyed knew the answers to those simple questions, and 90 percent of them knew how to swim. There are also signs warning the dangers of rip current. Strapped local governments are not hiring lifeguards, which means places like Bradford Beach in Milwaukee wont be staffed to handle emergencies. 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. GREAT LAKES, USA The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project (GLSRP) announces its current drowning statistics. Most public swimming pools will be closed due to COVID-19 concerns and other entertainment options such as fairs and festivals are getting canceled for the summer season. The number nearly doubled the previous year, and was the worst for drownings since 2012.08/05/2017 Northwest Indiana Times 7 ways to avoid drowning in Northwest Indiana, 08/05/2017 CBS 2 Chicago Hammond Woman, Kaitlynn Boswinkle, 24, Found Dead in Garys Marquette Beach. The odd yet peaceful calm. 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. When firefighters arrived, lifeguards had the man out of the water on a board, and firefighters assisted in carrying him over the wall and back to the beach, the report said. Beaches There have been 27 drownings in Lake Michigan in 2019. I started jogging a little bit to tell Malik to come closer, then I noticed his hand go up, then I started screaming cause I could tell he was in trouble at the time, she said. La organizacin Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project dio a conocer que en el lago se han registrado en total 27 muertes durante este ao, es decir, 12 ms que en el mismo periodo del 2018. Thats because the bodys instant response to cold water is to gasp. Eric Przykuta, a 43-year-old seventh-grade science teacher at Lancaster Middle School, died in an evening accident when the fishing boat he was riding in with two other men struck the breakwall near the Small Boat Harbor. 07/05/2018 Kenosha News Another tragedy too easily avoided Its happened again someone has drowned in Lake Michigan. If people think they are starting to drown, they need to remain calm and flip onto their backs and float. The experience of Michigan City is worth sharing today and could offer insight and a road map for Kenosha officials. That statistic is based on a controlled setting, such as a pool, said Benjamin. In fact, it can happen to anyone and it can happen quickly. It was the scariest thing, but Bokun told me after his family returned from Tennessee. During this year of record and near-record lake levels in the Great Lakes, drownings in Lake Michigan stand at 36, according to Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. of Natural Resources says the 6-year-old child was swimming in the swim zone of the beach when they went under the water but failed to resurface. Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area, contains 10% of the worlds freshwater, and covers an area of 31,700 sq mi (82,000 km sq). Males overestimate it by about 50 percent.. Its unknown if a lifeguard was present at the time. 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. 09/24/2017 Holland Sentinel A much better summer: Drownings down from 2016 Five people died in Ottawa County waters last year. 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. Those interested in sharing their opinion about the future of Holland State Park will have an opportunity in an upcoming virtual meeting. Its surface area is 31,700 square miles (82,000 square kilometers). Wear life jackets. The toughest thing to do if youre caught in a rip current is to swim directly to shore, Oudeman said. We were still resolving the $3.4 million shortfall that we discovered shortly after I took office in January.. The group worked with volunteer Deegan Boyles, who build the loaner station as his eagle scout project in memory of his grandfather. With many beaches closed due to erosion, Washington Park will see an increase in visitors, said Dave Benjamin, co-founder and executive director of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. All of these couldve easily been prevented, and once the person got in trouble, possibly survivable if the person knew survival drowning strategies, he said. 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. The CPD Marine Unit is still searching for that person. Filter By. The project reports 117 lives were lost on the Great Lakes because of drowning and they say, that number should be zero. Police are asking anyone with information about the investigation to come forward. CPD took over and brought the man to shore in Evanston, along with Coast Guard personnel assisting on the way. My sister and I have rescued 17 people, said 21-year-old Emily Richards while setting up for another day of guarding the beach on Friday, Aug. 25. 07/27/2019 Holland Sentinel Group: Lake Michigan worst Great Lake for drownings LUDINGTON West Michigan is home to the deadliest Great Lake when it comes to drownings, according to new numbers from the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. 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. Benjamin says the average cost per hour for a U.S. Coast Guard response boat is about $4,500. If a person is drowning, theres a very small window about four minutes to rescue them without irreversible brain damage, or, in the worst-case scenario, death. The CPD Marine Unit is still searching for that person. Many public pools across the Great Lakes region may be closed for the summer or have delayed openings, which means that many more people will be going to the beach.. And even with that vigilance, tragedy struck twice this summer off of Hamburgs shore. According to GLSRP data, overall since 2010 they have tracked 858 Great Lakes drownings. Note: There was a mix-up of some of the statistical information in the story.46 was the 2016 Lake Michigan Drownings yearend total.If we were comparing Labor Day 2016 with Labor Day 2017By Labor Day 2016 there were 36 Lake Michigan Drownings.By Labor Day 2017 there were 33 Lake Michigan Drownings. Benjamin said a lifeguard would have an immediate impact. Bubba was a polar bear loved for his personality and playfulness. 08/31/2017 ABC 10 & 13 August Was Deadliest Month So Far on Lake Superior in 2017 Five people drowned in Lake Superior in August, with four drownings in a 2-week span. Crime Stats 2018; . By the time other kite surfers reached Tolle, he was unconscious. Theres more information on Great Lakes drowning statistics and how to keep yourself on the water, www.glsrp.org. 07/10/2020 NBC 26 Green Bay STURGEON BAY (NBC 26) A non-profit group that tracks drownings on the Great Lakes is warning that the deadly four Ws are in play: Warm, Wind, Waves and Weekend. And boat sales are up across the country as Americans search for socially distant fun, he said. With many public pools closed this summer because of coronavirus, folks looking to cool off will likely head to packed beaches. Bokun has read too many stories about people whove drowned in that lake without the stereotypical image of flailing arms and desperate screams. But when you come and use the lakes, you need to remember its not like a backyard pool, said Bob Pratt, of The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. Wear a lifejacket especially while traveling on boats. Benjamin calls drownings a public health crisis. 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. Swimmers need to be protected from those dangers. Hollinside and Cornelio both drowned Tuesday in separate swimming accidents on Chicagos north lakefront, lured to their deaths by balmy 80-degree-plus air temperatures that belied a fatally frigid Lake Michigan. I didnt know, yet there I was I was male. 08/18/2020 NWI Times 2 drowning victims identified amid concerns about local beach safety Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project Executive Director Dave Benjamin, who helped provide care when Nagi was brought to shore at Porter Beach, also asked: Why are people allowed to continue to swim at these beaches when clearly Indiana Dunes State Park closed its water to swimmers because of the red flag conditions? Benjamin asked why the local beaches in question, which are within the jurisdiction of Indiana Dunes National Park, are allowed to operate without lifeguards, beach signage, beach flags, rescue equipment? Why are people allowed to swim when theres a report of a missing swimmer? he asked. There is no excuse to continue to operate these beaches without lifeguards, Benjamin said. But they feel in their hearts they made an impact. Since 2010, the project has reported 710 drownings on the five lakes, 291 in Lake Michigan. 07/29/2019 MIX 95.7 Dangerous conditions on Lake Michigan expected again Monday. But a lack of widespread knowledge that drowning can happen to anyone means many visitors ignore red flags. But Benjamin says jumping in isnt the first thing we should do in an emergency. Experts say too often swimmers overestimate their abilities and underestimate dangerous conditions. If you dont understand that youre likely to exhaust all your energy and submerge, he said. He said he always begins with an informal survey that typically reveals about 90% of the students say they know how to swim. (Note: * = (+/-) Awaiting 100% confirmation of drowning.) I survived by floating. If the waves and winds will be high, then stay away from these types of areas. Lifeguards say they need practice to make sure they can get you out of trouble. 08/08/2022 SOUTH HAVEN, MI SOUTH BEACH NO LIFEGUARDS YELLOW FLAGS WAVES 2 FEET BYSTANDER RESCUE & CPR This would have been routine lifeguard rescue under calm conditions. That lake accounts for nearly half of all drownings each year in the Great Lakes, due to a unique combination of factors such as population, wave effects, piers and weather patterns. Forsythe Jr. was attempting to bring a fish on to the boat when he lost his balance and entered the water. 07/12/2019 The News Dispatch Busy weekend for Beach Rescue Unit Tragic drowning one of several calls about Lake Michigan, 07/10/2019 WSBT 22 Crews back on Lake Michigan to find missing teen, what they now call a recovery operation, 07/09/2019 WSBT 22 Officials give water safety tips after a dangerous weekend on Lake Michigan, 07/09/2019 WSBT 22 Facebook Live Michigan City, IN Water Safety tips, 07/09/2019 The Herald Argus Search continues for missing swimmer South Bend teen went under Saturday evening off Washington Park, 07/08/2019 ABC 57 Lake Michigan the deadliest of the Great Lakes07/08/2019 The News Dispatch Weather hinders search in Lake Michigan SB teen missing since Saturday off Washington Park, 07/07/2019 Herald Argus SB teen missing in Lake Michigan. This summer with this grant (through the Indiana Department of National Resources), we can provide 24 hours of lifeguard in-service training for each Lake Michigan lifeguard.. Thatcher knew how to respond if he gets in trouble in the water. We still have four more months to go, Benjamin said. 07/02/2020 Chicago Tribune Beachgoers, park officials sound alarm for Lake Michigan safety: The majority of our drownings could be prevented. Never. Its the time of year when thousands of you head to the beach. 08/03/2017 Report: The Coast Guard and Chicago Police Marine units responded to an incident off Wilmette last night in which a scuba diver died. People dont realize how much weve been cutting ends because we dont know how long the COVID pandemic is going to last, Parry said. The Superior Fire Department personnel responded to a call that the body of Samuel was found who was underwater for about 12 hours. There may be sudden drop-offs, inshore holes, or debris/trees submerged along some shorelines. By this time, it was 10:00 p.m. and she had been in the water six hours. 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. This follows 2020, when 56 people drowned in Lake Michigan, setting a new high. Also, the report states, most people who drown arent wearing life jackets. They say it is a dangerous combination. However, the colliding vessel was instrumental in saving many of the surviving members from the wrecked Cowle ship. 09/06/2018 Herald Argus Man rescued after falling off pier Lifeguards keep him from being deadly weekend statistic MICHIGAN CITY A man who fell off the pier in Washington Park onto the rocks on Sunday was pulled from the water by lifeguards and taken to a hospital in stable condition. 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). Place an Obituary. For those folks, Benjamin has some advice: Dont go out in an inflatable raft with an offshore wind, he says. The reason a person who is dead in the water floats to the surface is because there is bacteria on and within our body. Her father, a 28-year-old Kenosha man who didnt know how to swim, entered the water to save her. We are going to continue to limit spending and watch our revenues closely, I believe with close monitoring and watchful spending, that the city will come out of this on the other side OK, and that we will not have to reduce our workforce or reduce any of the services that our residents have become used to.. Awards Conferred 2020-2021. Were not often playing with fire, but we are often playing in water, Benjamin said. As the winds travel farther north, the winds may also create waves and dangerous currents such as longshore currents, rip currents, and structural currents. Our goal is to prevent Great Lakes drownings through training, public preparedness, and public awareness.. And although its portrayed on television as a dramatic, long lasting incident, Pratt says, drowning can happen in the blink of an eye. Rip currents are very serious and can pull you away from the beach., 06/30/2020 Northwest Indiana Times Practicing beach safety: Experts weigh in on how to protect yourself, kids during summer.