You know there have been drownings over the years, but its not until you start adding them up that you go, Wow, she said. Southend: The Place Where I Go Surfing was screened Sept. 14 at The Towle Theater in Hammond and will be screened again Sept. 22 at Fire and Water At Washington Park in Michigan City. They didnt set any money aside in the budget for this summer or next. The $4.6 million draft includes designing and constructing a new bathroom building, installing an automated parking notification system and making accessibility improvements. 05/21/2018 Chicago Tribune From one end of the regions Lake Michigan shoreline to the other, officials who oversee beaches are making similar plans to line up lifeguards before Memorial Day weekend, the official kickoff of beach season. Were pretty cautious, he said. And with all that water - comes good fishing. The first girl might have been OK, but the second girl definitely would not. 06/08/2017 Michigan Radio NPR Holland tries new approach to warn people about dangerous lake conditions The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project reports that 98 people drowned in the Great Lakes last year, the most since 2012. [NOTE: 2018 stats are currently under review for final confirmation], 740 Great Lakes Drownings since 2010 (+/-). Higher water levels, smaller beaches, more people on the beach, its easy to lose track of your children on a crowded beach. The training was conducted by the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. He cited news reports that a Coast Guard helicopter search can run as high as $16,000 an hour. 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. 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. Story about the drowning: The body of Samuel Clark was found floating in Lake Superior near Barker's Island Marina on August 30. But I also believe those stories will save lives. 1. I wish I wasnt here. I didnt know, yet there I was I was male. It has been a deadly summer on beaches along the Great Lakes, with significantly more drownings than in pre-COVID years, a pair of UWindsor researchers has found. Its not a matter of if people will die from this fatal decision but when, said Dave Benjamin, executive director of the Great Lakes Rescue Project. Summary. 04/18/2017 PR Lake Michigan Drownings up 84% in 2016 over 2015; GLSRP presenting at the Great Lakes Water Safety Consortiums Great Lakes Water Safety Conference Thursday and Friday, April 20 and 21, at the Maywood Environmental Park, 3615 Mueller Rd. In addition theres the lost revenue for closing the beach and negative publicity to overcome with the drowning. 09/24/2018 Kenosha News Committees approve installing life rings, education resolution, violation penalties In the wake of four lakefront drownings here the past two years, including most recently high school student Donovan Anderson, the city of Kenosha is moving toward a comprehensive approach to upgrade water safety. He said they attribute this to the accessibility (beach access), population density in surrounding cities and the lakes configuration (strong currents). Removing lifeguards will cost lives and the cost to recover a body is much greater than the lifeguards salaries.. 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. This follows 2020, when 56 people drowned in Lake Michigan, setting a new high. Another water safety tip Benjamins notes is when renting a kayak or paddle board, you should always ask for a safety briefing beforehand and make sure there is a leash attached to the equipment so you can be pulled back to shore if you have any problems. The group recognizes funding will be a challenge but it also looked to see which businesses and nonprofits, as well as elected officials, step up to help bring water safety to the fore. Looking forward to the end of the year, our cash position to me is still concerning, Hoffmaster said. Largest freshwater lake in the world, one inch of surface water is equal to 553 billion gallons. 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. Exhausted and hysterical, she screamed, My babies, where are my babies?, Mews texted her brother, Coast Guard found me a half hour ago. 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. Great Lakes drownings are just the tip of the iceberg of the nationwide drowning crisis., 09/10/2018 WTMJ Non-profit hopes to teach Flip, Float & Follow water safety, 09/10/2018 FB Promo Todays TMJ4 LAKE MICHIGAN DROWNINGS: 33 people who have drowned in Lake Michigan this year. 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. 01/13/2020 WBCK FM Six Ways High Lake Levels Can Kill You 3. Its obvious how dangerous Lake Michigan can be. Sympathy Ideas. The park will have 20 lifeguard positions this year, comparable to last year, he said. He owned a michelada mix business called MixChelada. 07/31/2020 WSBT So far this year 24 people have drowned in Lake Michigan Water safety advocate Dave Benjamin has spent the past 10 years tracking Lake Michigan drownings. Place an Obituary. Do the opposite of your instincts. A local angler in the area recalled saying, Look at that when he saw the family crowded in the small kayak. Walz signs bill restoring voting rights for 55K felons, Convicted Salvation Army arsonist charged with trashing Caribou in Brooklyn Park, Minneapolis student pointed gun at another student, dean stepped between them: Charges, Man indicted in 2021 murder of St. Mike was an outstanding young man, great teammate, great student, and a great person, said head football coach Brian Foos. Then, follow a safe path out of the water. On Saturday, 08/20/2022, a recreational boater in the Playpen spotted a mans body floating in Lake Michigan as the Chicago Air and Water Show wrapped up Saturday. We want people to understand that for a drowning victim three minutes is the world, says David Benjamin of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. He noted the city and the Corps already have a real estate agreement for the south pier of the harbor and might not need to do a new and separate one for the north pier. 08/17/2020 Click on Detroit Swimming advisories extended for parts of Lake Michigan, 08/17/2020 Herald Dispatch One dead, several rescued from choppy waters of Lake Michigan PORTAGE Though the National Weather Service had issued beach warnings along the Lake Michigan shoreline, area beaches were packed this weekend, keeping first responders busy with emergency calls. He was pronounced dead at Bronson Hospital South Haven. The plan does not, however, include an updated water condition warning system for park visitors. Or how many lives may have been saved. Its not common sense that panic is the first stage of drowning. 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. 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. 08/06/2018 WZZM Tips for surviving a rip current in Lake Michigan Rip currents are quite common in the Great Lakes; here are some survival tips if you get caught in one. Benjamin said he hopes to eradicate tragedy with the mantra: Flip, float, follow. A water safety video created by Cochran was also shown at all district middle and high schools. He was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later, police said. Its not a rescue anymore; its a recovery., Common misconceptions about drownings dont help, either. 06/06/2017 MLIVE 5 Lake Michigan beaches could have dangerous conditions today There have been 20 drownings in the Great Lakes already this year, including 12 deaths in Lake Michigan, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project tracker. The Coast Guard recommends you play it safe. Porter Police found Sandys car in the parking lot near the beach, and a search has been underway since Monday. 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.. Sain, who lived in Chicago, was one of two boaters who had been missing since July 27, since going boating from East Chicago. About 300 more presentations are scheduled this year, with 100 of those in Northwest Indiana, he said. The expo event was inspired by, Tyler Spink. Our goal is to prevent Great Lakes drownings through training, public preparedness, and public awareness.. 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. 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. For the first time in five years, lifeguards are not on duty at Atwater Park beach due to a shortage of lifeguard applications received by the Milwaukee County Parks Department. There are ways to keep you and your family safe. 08/19/2018 WGN 9 3 boys drown during dangerous weekend for swimmers in Lake Michigan, 08/19/2018 NBC 15 2 killed, 1 in critical condition in separate drownings this weekend; bringing total to 64 across Great Lakes. Pay is $10.40 an hour. The woman was taken to a nearby hospital for further medical treatment, but her condition is not yet known. One hundred people have drowned in the Great Lakes this year, more than any other year since the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project began tracking drownings in 2010. Its about time, said Maria Rasch of Kenosha. He was pulled from the water, taken to the hospital and died. Statistics at the organizations website show that 843 people have drowned in the Great Lakes since 2010, with 97 of them taking place last year. Im not unsympathetic. Its a silent epidemic that gets very little proactive funding or attention., 02/09/2018 Petosky News Water safety education important at any age, 02/05/2018 WWMT Lake Michigan Winter Surfing, 01/28/2018 Lake Michigan Surfing Mike Killions Monday Recap for the boyz, 01/28/2018 Lake Michigan Surfing Gerri Matras Lanter Video, 01/02/2018 CTV News We must do better: Group tracks 88 drownings on Great Lakes in 2017, 01/01/2018 PR 88 Great Lakes Drownings in 2017; 625 Great Lakes Drownings since 2010 Mom of drowning victim speaks out and helping schedule Water Safety Presentations for 2018. The initial lack of response was not concerning for Parry, he said, as it would be months until lifeguards would be needed. Cleveland Metroparks police arrived on scene and two officers, a lieutenant and a captain, dived into the water and rescued the occupant from the truck. 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.. 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. Keep in mind that summer is still three weeks away, officially. Dont be another statistic. The stigma surrounding drowning, as well as the lack of industry-backing and scarce funding, also contribute to the epidemic, said Benjamin. The only year with more than 100 deaths on all Great Lakes was in 2012, with 101 drowning deaths. 10/26/2020 Great Lakes Echo Is Lake Michigan the most dangerous Great Lake? Putting it simply, he says more water means more hazards for people out on the beach. Water levels are higher, beaches are thinner and more people will be converging at beaches for outdoor recreation. Updated Jan 22, 2020 . Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project says Lake Michigan drownings are up 58% over this date in 2018 and the numbers are likely to continue to rise. Whats most import is the detection of the turning of events, White said. Waves and currents can be unpredictable and thats why the weather service encourages people to wear a life jacket. And Hoffmaster has been researching how the city might have access to coronavirus relief funds from the federal and state governments. On Aug. 30, a father and his three children drowned in a kayaking accident off a northern Wisconsin shoreline in Lake Superior. 250787 Obituaries. And float, Benjamin would add. Dave Benjamin with the Great Lakes Surf Rescue project couldnt disagree more. I could feel the vibe in the Common Council, Zondlak said. Lake Superior Fun Facts. Emergency personnel continued those efforts, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. He thought about his wife, Elise, his children, his granddaughter, and even his unborn grandchildren he hopes to enjoy someday. Five-year old, Annaliese sat near the bow. In any water emergency, the Great Lakes Surf and Rescue Project advocates a flip, float, follow strategy. The panic. 07/24/2022 MUSKEGON, MI PERE MARQUETTE BEACH SWIMMING WAVES & DANGEROUS CURRENTS Michael Hooffstetter, M-19, of Grove City, OH Hooffstetter had been swimming with friends when he was overcome by high waves and strong currents near the south breakwall. The odd yet peaceful calm. Find an Obituary. Sat. Read the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Projects full drowning summary atwww.glsrp.org/statistics. Its going to continue to be a leading cause of accidental death until we start to look at the bigger picture, said Benjamin. There have been six in 2018 already. They say it is a dangerous combination. Drowning happens to other people until you become other people. 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. The lawmakers' proposal, HB259, comes after 19 inmates died in Utah jails in 2020 matching a record-high in 2016 that made Utah's rate of inmate deaths one of the highest in the country . The officers have new rescue suits and equipment purchased in 2017 through a donation from the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation. Lifeguards there are working hard to keep swimmers safe. The city is also looking into a program to provide the police department with a personal watercraft to store at the beach. Each of them took time to express the importance of water safety and education. 8. According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, 117 drownings occurred on the Great Lakes in 2018. Were also working with the township and engineers and having ongoing conversations about what we can do, such as placing a gate on the pier and finding other ways to educate the public.. 05/01/2017 infoSuperior Statistics Show Spike in Lake Superior Drownings What if rescuers didnt have to enter the water? Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project reported 36 drownings on Lake Michigan so far this year as of September 19, 2019. A total of [98] drownings have been reported on the Great Lakes this year, 33 in Lake Michigan. However, the colliding vessel was instrumental in saving many of the surviving members from the wrecked Cowle ship. In 2015, Dave Benjamin, a spokesman for the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, an organization that seeks to prevent drownings in the Great Lakes, said Michigan enacted legislation that shields municipalities from lawsuits related to safety equipment near the water. 2020 Thunder Bay Sudbury Crime Stats. Invest in lake safety for summer With Lake Michigan temperatures reaching into the 70s, were happy to share Hollands beaches with tourists who come to soak up the West Michigan sun. Since 2010, 631 people have drowned in the five Great Lakes; and 295 of those drowned in Lake Michigan. 07/07/2020 WBBM News Radio 780 Swimmer In Critical Condition After Being Pulled From Lake Michigan Near Grant Park. View local obituaries in montana. I could no longer swim. According to Benjamin, 66 percent of all drowning victims are good swimmers. 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. The greatest increase in drownings were in Lake Michigan with 37 deaths, an increase of 14 deaths over the historical average of 23. Two other important tips from the Coast Guard: avoid alcohol and wear a life jacket. 11ax is more advanced built-in WiFi that can delivers faster internet connection than 802. Many of these deaths happen when people swimming end up in dangerous currents such as rip or structural-caused currents. Drowning was the reported cause of death in 80 percent of recreational boating fatalities in 2016, according to the U.S. Coast Guard and 83 percent of who drowned were not wearing a life jacket. 07/21/2020 Fox 6 Milwaukee SE Wisconsin sees sharp rise in drownings this summer; COVID-19 could play role, 07/21/2020 WNEM Teens body found in Lake Michigan after weekend drowning, 07/21/2020 WILX Teens body found in Lake Michigan after weekend drowning, 07/20/2020 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Teen who drowned saving two young family members was remembered for always doing the right thing, 07/20/2020 WLS 7 Chicago Local swim school offers swimming safety tips for parents, 07/17/2020 Fox 17 Frightening video of kids nearly swept off of Michigan City pier on Sunday, 07/16/2020 News Radio 780 WBBM Swimmer Dies After Going Underwater For 40 Minutes In Lake Michigan At Promontory Point, 07/16/2020 WSBT Michigan City looks to build barrier after scary video is shared online. MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) - A Marquette woman has been sentenced to prison for a fatal crash that happened in October 2020. 06/03/2019 TMJ4 Life rings finally up on Kenoshas north pier 6 years after Lake Mills mom lost her son, 05/31/2019 Northwest Indiana Times Lake Michigan claims 7 lives already this year; good swimmers not immune, expert says, 05/30/2019 WTTW Chicago Chanel 11 Beach Season is Here, and Water Safety Advocates Say Theyre Worried, 05/30/2019 WKZO A deadly year so far in the Great Lakes. The toughest thing to do if youre caught in a rip current is to swim directly to shore, Oudeman said. That defining moment in the Kochers lives was the moment they knew they had to do something about water safety and drowning prevention, Kathy said. Pratt and Dave Benjamin, GLSRP executive director, were tasked with leading over a dozen lifeguards, mostly teenagers, in an open water surf lifeguard training session Tuesday afternoon.