07/30/2018 Kenosha News Water safety initiative calls on greater action to prevent drowning deaths The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project gave a presentation Monday on water safety education to a group that included YMCA Executive Director Cindy Altergott, Somers Fire Chief Carson Wilkinson, John Raquet, and Peggy Burke, a Kenosha resident whose husband drowned in Lake Erie while on a fishing trip, among others. 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. 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. Figure 4: Monthly average water levels from 1918 to 2020 for Lake Superior (blue line) with the record highs and lows (black lines). In addition, the CDC states, for every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries. Already, 2019 has claimed 16 Great Lakes drowning victims, with the latest victim being pulled out of Lake Michigan at the end of May. The father decided to swim towards the shore with five-year old Annaliese on his back and three-year old Jansen in his arms, yet another fateful decision. That day, Bokun returned to the familys rented home near Spencer, Tennessee, joining his wife, his daughter, Alissa Baron, and other family members. 09/04/2017 Chicago Sun-Times 33 Lake Michigan drownings so far this year; down from 36 last year Thirty-three people have drowned in Lake Michigan so far this year, compared with 36 in the same period last year. He did not resurface. 07/31/2019 Lakeshore Public Radio All Things Considered Regionally Speaking Today: We talk with Dave Benjamin of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project about the alarming number of drownings in Lake Michigan this year although he says its been worse in the past. Hooffstetter was a Deans List student majoring in criminology and psychology. The body has not yet been identified by the Cook County medical examiners office. Zirkle has made it her mission to honor her sons memory and save people from the same tragedy through water safety education. After 10 minutes underwater there is about a 14 percent revival rate, and most will be left with a traumatic brain injury, Benjamin said. Since 2010, there have been more than 850 drownings in the Great Lakes. The U.S. Coast Guard and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources both recommend people wear life jackets when going into the lake. Relax, he said. If the waves and winds will be high, then stay away from these types of areas. A person who is drowning is in panic mode and can push a lifeguard or other would-be rescuer under water. Most deaths occurred on Saturdays, suggesting people were visiting beaches close to home, not away on holiday. There may be a lot of first-time boat buyers on the Great Lakes and they need to understand the basics of water safety like filing float plans, understanding changing marine forecasts, avoiding extra debris in the water, wearing lifejackets, and surviving cold water immersion, Benjamin said. We believe that every drowning is preventable and weve got to start asking ourselves as a society, Why are we not preventing them? prompted Dave Benjamin, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Great Lakes Surf Project. 09/07/2020 NWI Times Indiana teens body recovered from Lake Michigan, DNR says, 09/09/2020 NWI Times Search continues for boater after he fell overboard near Hammond Marina, 09/07/2020 WNDU Southwest Michigan shorelines see high swim risk on Labor Day, 09/07/2020 WZZM Stay out of the water, Dangerous swim conditions on Lake Michigan, 09/06/2020 The Holland Sentinel My Take: Lifeguards at Lake Michigan would make all the difference, 09/05/2020 WZZM 3 water rescues reported near South Haven on Lake Michigan. 09/29/2020 Huron Daily Tribune Lake Michigan drownings surge to new high in 2020, 09/29/2020 Click on Detroit Lake Michigan drownings surge to new high in 2020 At least 53 people died so far this year, 09/23/2020 MLIVE Lake Michigan Documentary The Deadliest Great Lake. She was last listed in critical Condition Witnesses said they saw the person struggling in the water A jogger saw the rescue and administered CPR until paramedics arrived. 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. 07/30/2019 CBS 2 Chicago Threat Of Dangerous Waves, Currents Prompts Warning About Beach Hazards, 07/30/2019 Holland Sentinel Police: Being a hero isnt always the safest bet during water rescues. Removing lifeguards will cost lives and the cost to recover a body is much greater than the lifeguards salaries.. As part of National Water Safety Month in May, the City of Michigan City and Michigan City Area Schools have collated together in an effort to prevent water emergencies. Beginning May 15, 2017, Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project (GLSRP) will be educating our youth on the necessity of Lakefront Safety. 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. 08/27/2018 9 and 10 News Ohio Man Dies After Falling Off Frankfort Pier into Lake Michigan. Awards Conferred 2020-2021. During the entire week of spring break, Kenoshas YMCA is offering free swim safety lessons. That plan is a long-term goal for management of the park, he said. 08/26/2018 MLIVE Michigan surfer tells of attempts to save drowned man who was washed off pier One of those attempted rescuers was surfer Ryan Gerard, 40, of St. Joseph. He was pulled from the water, taken to the hospital and died. 25 Posts. 2020 Thunder Bay Sudbury Crime Stats. In addition to the confirmed drownings, there are an additional 3 drowning incidents where the victims were last listed as Critical Condition, Unknown Condition, Serious Condition, or Missing. The Superior Fire Department personnel responded to a call that the body of Samuel was found who was underwater for about 12 hours. He has seen people who struggled to put one on after a kayak rolls over, but the lake just tears it away. On Monday, July 15, 2019 a toddler was on an inflatable duck in Michigan City, Indiana that was blown out to open water by a side-offshore wind. June 13, 2020 -Bike The Shore Fundraiser (Click here for details), accidental near-drowning with medical complications, US-2 and the Dunes just west of Pointe Aux Chenes Road, https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2020/10/14/body-of-missing-man-found.html, blue and there was water coming up out of his mouth, witnesses had seen Timmerman surface and call for help. There were slightly fewer deaths on Lake Erie and no change in the number of deaths on Lake Superior. 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. Joseph R. ODonnell*, M-45, was found in the water near the Edgewater Yacht Club by Edgewater Park. 07/10/2020 Record Eagle Editorial: Enjoy beaches and lakes with care Take a few moments this week, next week or whenever you next arrive at a beach or boat launch to redouble your water safety efforts. 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. The parents were in the two seats, the nine-year old, Kyra, in the middle, holding her three-year-old brother, Jansen, in her lap. Swimmers who are struggling in water over their heads need to flip on their backs, float to calm themselves and keep their heads above water and then follow go with, rather than fight the current until they are able to swim toward shore. None of the Great Lakes drowning victims in 2017, for instance, were wearing a life jacket. Since 2010, there have been 714 Great Lakes drownings. GREAT LAKES, USA In 2019 the GLSRP tracked 97 Great Lakes drownings. In fact, it's so large that it could hold the water from all of the other Great Lakes, along with three more Lake Eries! The father died from hypothermia, the children drowned. That explains why people take risks, such as swimming alone or beyond their physical capability, and why so often would-be rescuers become drowning victims, he said. Dave Benjamin, co-founder of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, has used this time to educate the public about the risks involved. We feel its for the best for the safety. Examples like this are out there. Drowning happens to other people until you become other people. Even the gold letters of the ship's nameplate are still . Thats why the U.S. Coast Guard in St. Joseph, Michigan is stressing water safety as the seasons begin to change. LAKE MICHIGAN =40 plus 4 critical orunknown condition, Lake Michigan Critical or Unknown Condition = 4, Lake Ontario Critical or Unknown Condition, LAKE MICHIGAN = 46 Plus 6 listed in Critical Condition, LAKE MICHIGAN6LastListed in CRITICAL CONDITION, 2012Great Lakes Drowning Statistics = 99; 260 since 2010, 2011Great Lakes Drowning Statistics = 87; 161 since 2010, 2010Great Lakes Drowning Statistics = 74433, 09/23/2020 MLIVE Lake Michigan Documentary The Deadliest Great Lake, Good Morning AmericaBoater helps rescue toddler stranded on inflatable duck, Inside EditionToddler Sobs as He Drifts Out on Lake Michigan on Giant Duck Float, NBC 5 ChicagoClose Call Caught on Cam on Lake Michigan After Toddler on Inflatable Duck Carried Away by Wind What began as a peaceful day at the lake in Michigan City, Indiana, quickly turned to panic Monday afternoon. Even on a beautiful day like today, they say the Great Lakes can be dangerous. The only year with more than 100 deaths on all Great Lakes was in 2012, with 101 drowning deaths. Superior Obituaries. There may be sudden drop-offs, inshore holes, or debris/trees submerged along some shorelines. 08/04/2019 WZZM Lake Michigan drownings up 87% in 2019, group says To date in 2019, there have been 54 drownings in all the Great Lakes. Eventually, the Coast Guard realized the calls were coming from Lake Superior. Once you are floating and calm, find the safest route out of the water. 05/14/2017 PR Michigan City Students Heading to the Beach this week for Lake Michigan Water Safety Presentations The GLSRP is partnering with the City of Michigan City, the Michigan City Fire Department, and Michigan City Parks and Recreation Department lifeguards to perform Lake Michigan water safety presentations for Barker Middle School students. He was pronounced dead at Bronson Hospital South Haven. 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. It gives the public a false sense of security that drowning wouldnt happen to them, that it only happens to stupid people. In addition, check local sandbar formations. 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. That's a lot of water. Sunk on August 21. 09/26/2017 Manistee News Advocate Fall and winter season pose new hazards to fishermen The danger of drowning doesnt disappear with the summer season. Youve been reported overdue/missing.. However, he soon got into trouble as well. The waves will pound you, the undertow will grab youyou may scream . It was one of four drownings in 2018, putting officials under pressure to do something. But according to Mulligan, safety concerns arent what a general management plan is designed to tackle. Annual Wisconsin Death Report, 2018 P-01170-20 (December 2020) Report Narrative (PDF) Detailed Tables (Excel) Technical Notes (PDF) Other reports and data products The lifeguards, officials said, are in place for a reason: Lake Michigan can be dangerous and unpredictable. The city employs 30 lifeguards in the summertime, and the Police Department has a designated park patrol to help keep an eye on the water. There are ways to keep you and your family safe. Theres usually no screaming or thrashing in the water. 11/18/2020 Fox TV 6 High water levels and wave events increase safety hazards on Great Lakes Many accidents and incidents near harbor structures occur during the turbulent weather season late in the year and higher than normal water levels pose an added threat. I asked my dad, and he did it, too. 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. 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. Its irresponsible and dangerous, and people die from it.. Add the city and county resources and you can run almost $500,000 a day for a single body recovery.. As of late Wednesday, 5,400 [8,500+] people had signed the petition. 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. 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. Lake Ontario saw its own share of water-related tragedies this summer with at least three drownings in five weeks, including: In Hazels case, authorities said he was wearing a life jacket when his boat sank. When a swimmer gets in trouble, theres typically less than one minute until final submersion, he said. We are creating the illusion of providing a lifeguard service, which I dont think is fair to the community or to the beach users.. 09/23/2020 Chicago Sun-Times Three other people have drowned this year in Monroe Harbor. It could be kayakers, people on paddleboards or other recreational activities. (Full Storyhere). One thing for sure is it takes a community willing to come together to prevent drownings. 04/23/2019 TMJ4 Leaders with the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project report there were 42 drownings in Lake Michigan last year alone. 11ax is more advanced built-in WiFi that can delivers faster internet connection than 802. 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. 8. 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. And expressed frustration that cities dont make water safety more of a priority. 1888. 1 reason those people ultimately drown is because they werent wearing a life jacket. Its being presented by the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project in partnership with the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, the Great Lakes Water Safety Consortium and the Matthew Kocher Foundation. Search Minnesota Obituaries. 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. Lake Michigan follows Lake Erie with 21 total drowning deaths this year, including two this past weekend. In November of that same year, she went to the Port Sheldon Township Board and pleaded for warning signs and other safety equipment. Lori Chapman, scriptwriter and editor for the video, was in the room for those difficult moments, as well. He had a bad wipe out, fell on his back and had the wind knocked out of him. NEW! 02/19/2018 WLS 7 Dangerous shelf ice forms along Lake Michigan. I cannot stress enough that drowning really is a public health issue that needs to be treated like a public health issue. 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. Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron above the seasonal long-term average Thursday, January 5, 2023 . 06/18/2018 WNDU Lifeguards get summer training for beach season, 06/17/2018 WSBT 22 Lake Michigan beaches work to reduce drownings, 06/15/2018 WNDU Officials prepare for busy Fathers Day weekend at Lake Michigan beaches, 06/09/2018 Video GLSRP Open Water Surf Lifeguarding In-service, 06/08/2018 NBC 5 Authorities Warn of Dangers to Lake Michigan Swimmers. 09/18/2019 MLIVE Man stranded on Northern Michigan pier by high waves, rescued by Coast Guard The man, who was in his 40s and not local to the Frank-Elberta area, planned to stay overnight on the pier on Thursday, Sept. 12. "It was a moderately rough night," said Kravitz, who was on the water aboard the 25-foot . There were four drownings in Lake Erie and four more in Lake Superior, where a father and three children ages 3, 5 and 9 drowned when their kayak overturned near Madeline Island off Bayfield, Wisconsin. Were not often playing with fire, but we are often playing in water, Benjamin said. The lakeshore attracts local residents and visitors alike and some may not be aware of the powerful impacts that strong winds, storms and high water levels can bring. The release also links to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, a nonprofit geared toward eradicating drownings in the Great Lakes. All five family members were wearing life vests and had paddles. 07/07/2019 ABC 7 Newsviews: Water Safety The weather has finally warmed up and maybe youve spent time at the beach this weekend. 2023 FOX Television Stations, from SUN 9:00 AM CST until MON 12:00 PM CST, Clay County, Norman County, Wilkin County, Gov. Speakers from theGreat Lakes Sea Grant Network,National Weather Service,Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project,universities, and many others will share the latest science, techniques, and technologies. This year already reports 5 deaths, again the majority on Lake Michigan. Other drownings across the Great Lakes drew international attention. If you find yourself in a panicked drowning situation, flip yourself on to your back, float to get yourself and your breathing under control, and then follow a safe path out of the water. And now consider how often you play in water. 06/11/2017 PR Drownings continue to rise Lake Michigan leading the statistics Hot weekend, strong south winds can cause hazards Especially with beach toys GREAT LAKES, USA The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project (GLSRP) announces its current drowning statistics. Lifeguards at nearby Hamburg Town Beach tried reaching Biehler, but they were unable to. Mr. Magoo remained at the Duluth zoo until his death in 1968. Wear a lifejacket especially while traveling on boats. Chicago says many social distancing ambassadors are also trained lifeguards. Search United States obituaries and condolences, hosted by Echovita.com. It was the first mistake, of several, documented in the report. In 2019 the GLSRP is tracking 44 Great Lakes drownings; 22 of those in Lake Michigan. If you are caught in a rip current, swim parallel to shore. There were 11 more drowning deaths than average in Lake Ontario this year and four more in Lake Huron. Ninety percent in attendance will say they know how to swim, and less than 5 percent will know a drowning survival strategy, he said. Water that is below 70 degrees is considered dangerous and can quickly lead to hypothermia and death, according to the National Center for Cold Water Safety. Running a helicopter out of its summer birth in Muskegon (HH-65 Dolphin) costs about $10,000 per hour. As of Tuesday, the GLSRP had confirmed 91 drownings in the Great Lakes this year, including 31 on Lake Michigan. After that nonfatal drowning event I co-founded the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. A fully staffed Bradford Beach would have 14 lifeguards working seven days a week for 10 weeks at a total cost of $70,000. A capsized catamaran-style boat in was spotted in Lake Michigan near East Chicago shortly after 10:30 a.m. Monday. Their swimming endurance may be down, even if their confidence is not, he said. Five people died in drownings in the county in 2018, including an 18-year-old high school student who died after jumping from North Pier with friends and a father who drowned trying to save his daughter from a rip current off the beach where the Pike River flows into Lake Michigan. He said not only do Lifeguards save lives, but they educate the public about their specific beach hazards when patrons come to the beach. The week included presentations about water safety by David Benjamin from the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project at Unified high schools and middle schools. View local obituaries in montana. Enter an organism name (or organism group name such as enterobacteriaceae, rodents), taxonomy id or select from the suggestion list as you type. Life-saving measures were not enough. Without that ring, she wouldve gone under and been unconscious.. Heres what to know before going for a swim, 07/22/2019 WNDU Warnings of Lake Michigan dangers come after swimming deaths, 07/22/2019 ABC 57 Mother creates petition to bring lifeguards back to South Haven, 07/22/2019 CBS 2 Chicago Lake Michigan Drownings Continue Despite Warnings, 07/22/2019 CBS 2 Chicago Chicago Weather: Beach Hazard Statement, Small Craft Advisory For Lake Michigan, 07/22/2019 Northwest Indiana Times UPDATE: Five fatal drownings at Lake Michigan beaches in the Region this year, officials say, 07/22/2019 ABC 57 An area lifeguard takes to Facebook to strongly warn of dangerous swimming, 07/21/2019 WGN Chicago Officials remind public about water safety after man drowns in Lake Michigan, 07/21/2019 NBC 5 Chicago After Recent Tragedies, CFD Officials Offer Water Safety Tips, 07/18/2019 MLIVE Toddler floats away on inflatable duck on Lake Michigan, bystanders rescue child, 07/18/2019 Detroit Free Press Bystander saves toddler who floats away on inflatable duck in Lake Michigan, 07/18/2019 Daily Mail UK Toddler is rescued by a boater on Lake Michigan after strong winds push his yellow inflatable duck away from shore, 07/18/2019 Inside Edition Toddler Sobs as He Drifts Out on Lake Michigan on Giant Duck Float, 07/17/2019 Holland Sentinel Red flags: [Not So] Well-known warning system at state park not always heeded, 07/17/2019 Good Morning America Boater helps rescue toddler stranded on inflatable duck, 07/17/2019 ABC 7 Chicago Kids learn water safety in junior lifeguard program in Wilmette, 07/17/2019 South Bend Tribune Toddler saved in Lake Michigan by nearby boater after winds carry inflatable. 07/07/2020 Chicago Sun-Times Chicago man drowns at Evanston beach Marcos Quito was pulled from the water Monday at Clark Street Beach in the 1800 block of Sheridan Road, authorities said. 08/31/2018 WZZM Father and three children die after kayak capsizes in Lake Superior Going into Labor Day weekend, the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project is warning people to be careful around the water. A 12-year-old Chicago Heights boy drowned Thursday at Marquette Park Beach in Gary while visiting the beach with family, according to officials. That operator was retrieved and transported to the University of Chicago for treatment and is listed in critical condition. While the water provides plenty of great opportunities for fun, it is important to take precautions and be safe because summer fun can turn to tragedy quickly. 4. However, the Park District is still looking to hire more lifeguards. Abstract. 3. 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.. Its not common knowledge that 66% of all drowning victims were good strong confident swimmers. A citizen volunteered his drone to help with the search. That friend called again at 12:15 a.m. to confirm that Salvino had arrived home, but the 25-year-old said he was still walking to his residence. I want to get the word out and make this a wonderful turnout for this incredible deserving family.. Among them will be a resolution authorizing the city to install three life ring buoys on Kenosha Harbors north pier, a life ring set on the south wall of the harbor and another near the mouth of the Pike River which feeds into the lake near the band shell at Pennoyer Park. So much of our lakefront is right up to residences where kids have access to these parks and to the beaches and to the water and were doing nothing to protect them, said Halle Quezada of Chicago Alliance for Water Safety. And canceling lifeguards is a huge setback, Benjamin said. In her life on the shore of Lake Superior she mingles with fishermen and farmers, quiet folk who keep to themselves. Benjamin says frequent winds from the north cause currents along the shore line. 06/07/2018 Post-Tribune Lifeguards train to save lives at Indiana Dunes On a windy day that caused the waves on Lake Michigan at Indiana Dunes State Park to be even more unpredictable than usual, Bob Pratt, Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project director of education, told the group of lifeguards that stood before him that they are going to train until they get it right. No time frame has been set for completing bathymetric contours of Lake Superior, though a 3 arc-second (~90 meter cell size) grid is available. The family believes that he was wearing a lime green life jacket at the time of the incident. It hasnt stopped visitors from swimming there this spring. The psychology of men is that theyre more likely to take risks, to succumb to peer pressure and overestimate their abilities, he said. The surviving crew members were rescued by SS Scott, which resulted in fewer deaths than estimated. And although its portrayed on television as a dramatic, long lasting incident, Pratt says, drowning can happen in the blink of an eye. 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. 07/19/2022 SAUGATUCK, MI OVAL BEACH Lucie Ann Hoyt, F-78 bystanders had jumped in, pulling the woman out of the water and performing CPR. Since 2010, 662 people have drowned in the Great Lakes, with nearly half of those drownings taking place on Lake Michigan. 07/01/2019 Chicago Tribune DNR hosts free events for public to explore Lake Michigan Water Trail Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project was in attendance and set up a tented booth next to the lakeshore to teach children and adults about safety when in the water. He also says to take water safety into consideration is along the piers of Lake Michigan. 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. Water safety is not common sense., Benjamin said, in his opinion, thats where lifeguards are critical. Now, community officials are banding together, announcing new safety tools at Fridays Beach Safety Initiative on the Grand Haven Beach. Currents caused by wind or structures like piers can make swimming in the lakes dangerous. Dave Benjamin is executive director of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. Four hospitalized after rollover crash at Highway 53 and Second Avenue East in Superior, WI. It was a simple solution that became very complex. I cant employ enough qualified lifeguards, said David Richards, city manager. They say it is a dangerous combination. Benjamin said part of the training process is explaining the signs of a potential drowning victim and how to identify a potential victim. Also, the report states, most people who drown arent wearing life jackets. It was mounting multiple life rings on a pier, Stanick said. Benjamin said 46 people drowned in Lake Michigan last year, one of the worst years for the lake since the group started tracking drownings in 2010. Beachgoers tried to help but were turned back by the waves. Since the group started accumulating data in 2010, 687 Great Lakes drownings have been reported. Many of these deaths happen when people swimming end up in dangerous currents such as rip or structural-caused currents. That means there may be bacterial contamination. (We) came together and now we will have lifesaving devices (going up) on the north and the south piers, Jim Zondlak, a KSFCA board member and former president, said Wednesday. Its risky to have lifeguards on duty. 07/09/2020 The Sault News Group says Great Lakes drowning cases spiked over holiday weekend, 07/09/2020 Northwest Indiana Times UPDATE: Coroner identifies 12-year-old drowning victim. For the victim, Benjamin said, panic is the first stage of drowning. Be safe this season. Williams was taken to Northwestern Hospital and was later pronounced dead before 9 p.m. 08/17/2022 CHICAGO DIVERSY HARBOR 2601 North Cannon Drive at about 5:02 a.m. Michael Davila, M-43 a long-time bartender and entrepreneur in Chicago. 08/03/2019 Chicago Press Group: Lake Michigan Drownings up 87% Over Last Year. 1. The first two drownings of the season occurred on Lake Erie five days and about 5 miles apart in May.