FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project
Dave Benjamin, Executive Director
708-903-0166
dave.benjamin@glsrp.org
www.GLSRP.org
Bob Pratt, Executive Director, 517-643-2553
As schools get our for summer, are you prepared for water safety?
Chicagoland water safety education this weekend
CHICAGOLAND, IL – The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project (GLSRP) announces two Great Lakes Water Safety classes this weekend.
- Saturday, June 6, 8:30 a.m. at the Waukegan Yacht Club, 199 N. Harbor Place, Waukegan
- Sunday, June 7, 10:00 a.m. at the Northwestern Sailing Center, 1823 Campus Drive, Evanston
These classes are in coordination with the launch of the National Weather Service’s “National Beach Safety Awareness Week” and the Council of Great Lakes Governors “Beach Safety Awareness Week”, June 7 – 15, 2015. Both classes will be performed Rain or Shine.
“Most people do not know that drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death in the nation,” said Dave Benjamin, GLSRP executive director. “And with summer upon us, many people will be flocking to water destinations to enjoy the outdoors.”
“Water safety is not common sense like Stop, Drop, and Roll or putting on your seatbelt when you get in a car. There’s a huge gap for water safety education and other public safety initiatives. The World Health Organizations stated this year that drowning continues to be a neglected public health issue.”
“Water safety should be a part of every school curriculum,” said Bob Pratt, GLSRP executive director. “Everyone should know basic water safety information from an early age. I’ve seen how effective fire safety education is. It’s time we started teaching water safety in all of our schools.”
In schools today there are fire drills, tornado drills, school shooter drills, and some states even have earthquake drills.
Unfortunately though, each year in the United States more school aged children will likely die drowning than in fires, tornadoes, school shooters, and earthquakes combined. It’s time for a water safety school curriculum in the Great Lakes region and nationwide.
The “Great Lakes Water Safety” classes this weekend are FREE and OPEN to the public, surfers, police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, water rescue team members, dive team members, and Coast Guard.
The “Great Lakes Water Safety” class will teach participants to:
- Understand that drowning is a leading cause of injury and death
- Recognize the “Signs of Drowning” – How to identify a person in trouble.
- Recognize the dangers of the surf environment
- Understand dangerous currents; i.e. how, where, and why dangerous currents occur
- Understand the “Flip, Float, & Follow” drowning survival strategy
- Understand how a flotation device such as a throw ring, throw, rope, surfboard or other objects that float can rescue a person in distress or in a dangerous current
- Enroll in lifesaving, first aid and CPR training from accredited agencies.
GLSRP Drowning Statistics
Like GLSRP’s Facebook Page
Follow GLSRP on Twitter @ripcurrentsafeT
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ABOUT THE GLSRP
The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, Inc. (GLSRP) is about saving lives. It is a nonprofit 501c3 corporation that is a Chapter of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA).
The GLSPR:
- Tracks the Great Lakes drowning statistics (389 since 2010)
- Teaches “Great Lakes Water Safety” classes (Over 135 classes since 2011)
- Hosts Surf Lifeguard Certification courses (pics), and
- Works with family and friends of Great Lakes drowning victims to advocate water safety.
