FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project
Dave Benjamin, Executive Director
708-903-0166
dave.benjamin@glsrp.org
www.GLSRP.org
8 rescued in Lake Erie since Saturday
Great Lakes Water Safety Conference today to address water safety & survival
CLEVELAND, OH – Eight people were rescued in Lake Erie since Saturday in two separate incidents. One kayaker was rescued about 100 yards offshore near Lake Avenue at Douglas Drive in Bay Village.
Seven people were rescued in Lake Erie on Saturday when a distress call came in from a vessel with two downed engines and taking on water about one mile northeast of Mouse Island. The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol and U.S. Coast Guard assisted six fisherman and the captain of a charter boat.
With summer right around the corner, now is the perfect time to understand the Great Lakes.
The Great Lakes Water Safety Consortium (GLWSC) is hosting a Great Lakes Water Safety Conference today, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.at the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center, 28728 Wolf Road, Bay Village, OH.
There will be presenters from the eight Great Lakes states and Ontario, CA representing the National Weather Service, Sea Grant Institute, Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, U.S. Coast Guard, universities, and the local communities.
Since 2010 there have been 446 drownings in the Great Lakes (GLSRP Statistics).
“Virtually all of them were preventable,” says Jamie Racklyeft, executive director of the GLWSC and rip current survivor. “Often times when we hear of someone drowning in the Great Lakes, we wonder what else could be done to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Knowing how to swim is important, but there’s much more to water safety.”
“We’re bringing together a roster of experts – first responders, wave and current research scientists, meteorologists, lifeguards, and other water safety advocates,” Racklyeft added. “If you want to keep people safer in the water this year, these experts are gathering to let you know how.”
“Dozens of groups have been working on their own over the years toward a common goal of preventing drowning, and now we’re working together to accelerate our progress as members of this new ‘community of BEST practice’.”
Who Should Attend?
Everyone is welcome to attend and learn about ways to end drowning. Parents, community leaders, teachers, police officers, firefighters, EMTs, park rangers, the media – anyone who wants to learn to avoid, escape, and safely save others from waves and dangerous currents and help spread water safety messages, including:
- When in doubt, don’t go out
- Steer clear of the pier
- Flip, float & follow
- Drowning doesn’t look like drowning
Anyone who wishes to have water safety experts present in their school or community may contact the Great Lakes Water Safety Consortium via their website for a referral.
Visit GreatLakesWaterSafety.org for more information, for training referrals, or to join the Consortium for free.
GLWSC ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter @GLWaterSafety
Facebook page
###
