GLSRP Media Mentions in 2011

63 GLSRP MEDIA MENTIONS IN 2011

1. 09/05/2011 – WNDU – Man drowns in Lake Michigan off New Buffalo beach – One man is dead and another rescued after rip currents pulled the two friends out into Lake Michigan. It happened around 4:30 p.m. Sunday along the New Buffalo Public Beach. Police say Wojciech Sadowski, 25, of Palos Hills Illinois drowned in waves close to ten feet.  According to a media release written by the New Buffalo Police Department, lifeguards spotted the two men being pulled out by an apparent rip current. Although one of the men was able to hold on to a swim zone buoy, Sadowski was pulled out into deeper water.  A New Buffalo lifeguard was able to save the man left clinging to the buoy and bring him safely to shore. However, the high wave conditions prevented the lifeguard from reaching Sadowski. Despite multiple water rescues this year, this incident marks New Buffalo’s first drowning of 2011. Police say it’s unfortunate that streak had to end just one day shy of the unofficial close to the summer season.  According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, 74 people drowned in the Great Lakes last year. So far this year, 64 people have drowned in the Great Lakes, Sadowski makes 65.

2. 09/02/2011 – Chicago Tribune – Surfers are prepared to help this weekend; Rip currents forecast along Lake Michigan.

3. 09/02/2011 – CBS 2 Chicago – Coast Guard: Watch For Rip Currents In Lake Michigan – The Coast Guard says this summer, 43 people have drowned on Lake Michigan, including five people just last weekend – a 44-year-old Wheeling man, a 14-year-old Evanston near Gillson Park in Wilmette, and a student from Valparaiso University. [In the latest on-air broadcast of this report, Bernie added, “According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, overall 62 people have drowned in the Great Lakes.”

4. 09/01/2011 – Southbend Tribune – Surfers group ready to help this weekend; Rip currents forecast along Lake Michigan

5. 09/01/2011 – WNDU – Potential drowning prevented

6. 09/01/2011 – Daily Herald – Lake Michigan drownings have officials urging vigilance – “It’s not the rip current that pulls you under,” said Bob Pratt, creator of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, which works to educate people on safe practices in dangerous water. “If you can avoid panic, your chances of survival are a lot greater. Roll over and float on your back until its over.”

7. 09/01/2011 – Holland Sentinel – Lake Michigan rip currents will be dangerous this weekend

8. 09/01/2011 – Wilmette Patch – Recent Lake Michigan Drownings Prompt Labor Day Safety Alert – Half of the 62 Great Lakes drownings this summer have occurred in Lake Michigan.

9. 09/01/2011 – WSBT – Great Lakes surfers save drowning victims

10. 08/31/2011 – Harbor County News – Rescue class participant makes rip-tide rescue in lake

11. 08/29/2011 – WSJM – Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project Helps Prevent Drowning Over Weekend 

12. 08/28/2011 – ABC 57 – Man’s drowning marks 57 on Michigan’s Great Lakes – Last Sunday – “North Berrien Fire Rescue team members had just returned from a surf safety class in New Buffalo. Still geared up, they raced to the beach, arriving within minutes of the call.” Unfortunately still too late.  That’s how fast drowning happens.  Great Lakes Drownings are now up to 63!

13. 08/25/2011 – Herald Palladium – Surf rescue class planned in NB – Instruction to promote awareness of rip currents

14. 08/25/2011 – Eastern Surf Magazine – Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project Requests To Present At The National

15. 08/23/2011 – WSJM Radio, Andrew Green Reporting – More Rip Current Training for Surfers Planned for New Buffalo – Another training session is planned for New Buffalo this Sunday for Great Lakes surfers to learn how to recognize and rescue swimmers who are struggling in Lake Michigan. Dave Benjamin, with the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, tells WSJM that there’s already been a class in Saint Joseph, where attendees were taught all about rip currents — the number one cause of Great Lakes drownings — and how they can use their surf boards, or anything else, as flotation devices to save the distressed. The program is expanding to more than just surfers, though: [RADIO CLIP] Third Coast Surf Shop in New Buffalo will host the Surf Rescue Project’s next “Surfboard Rescue Techniques” class and “Third Coast Ocean Force” rip current awareness campaign Sunday, August 28th, at nine-30 AM, at Lions Pavilion Park and New Buffalo City Beach. Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend.

16. 08/20/2011 – Eastern Surf Magazine – Third Coast Surf Shop’s Continued Partnership With The “Surfboard Rescue Techniques” Class Sun., Aug. 28, New Buffalo, MI

17. 08/20/2011 – Lake Realtors – This Week in Harbor County – If you are interested in understanding the dangers of the lake, this is a great opportunity. The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project will host a ‘Surf Rescue class Sunday August 28th, at the Lions Park Pavilion in New Buffalo. Get started early with a class for assessing surf conditions, rip current education, and beach safety. This class starts at 9:30 am, is free, and open to all.

18. 08/16/2011 – Harbor County News – Surf Rescue classes – The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project will host a “Surf Rescue” class Sunday, August 28, 2011, at the Lions Pavilion Park, New Buffalo. There will be a meet-and-greet at 9:30 a.m.; a classroom session for assessing surf conditions, rip current education, beach safety and rescue techniques a t 10 a.m.; and a water session to practice hands-on surf rescue techniques at 11:15 a.m. Participants can attend the classroom session and do not have to attend the water session. The class is free and open to the public.

19. 08/12/2011 –Third Coast Surf Shop – Scary Statistics

20. 08/11/2011 – Northwest Indiana Times – Divers recover body of Illinois man – GARY | The body of a New Lenox, Ill., man who disappeared Wednesday in choppy waters off Wells Street Beach, was recovered from Lake Michigan on Thursday afternoon. Indiana Department of Natural Resources Officer Gene Davis said Brett Vanetten, 20, was found at 12:48 p.m. in about 7 feet of water, approximately a quarter mile west of where he was last seen. Vanetten was presumed drowned after he disappeared while swimming with friends shortly after 2 p.m. A riptide risk was in effect Wednesday, making conditions dangerous for swimming. The search for Vanetten was called off at 7 p.m. Wednesday before resuming Thursday morning. Vanetten’s death marks 52 drownings in the Great Lakes this year, 25 of which were in Lake Michigan said Dave Benjamin, spokesman for the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. Last year, there were 74 drownings in the Great Lakes. Benjamin, of Matteson, Ill., who has been surfing in the Great Lakes for two years and swimming in them for more than 40, said he’s noticed anytime the lakes are good for surfing there’s always news of drownings as well. He calls that association “heartbreaking.” Davis said DNR officials located the body on side-scan sonar and divers from the Lake County Aquatics Team recovered the body. The Lake County marine unit and Lake County Sheriff’s Department helicopter also participated in the search. A Porter County Sheriff’s Department chaplain was also at the scene with family members of the missing man. Benjamin said to prevent being dragged out by a rip current, swimmers should respect the warning flags. The standard advice has been to swim parallel to the shore to get out of the rip current. Benjamin also advises swimmers to flip on their back, float and follow the current. That way, you’re not using all of your energy fighting the rip current. “Really respect the power of the lakes,” he said. “If the water looks like a washing machine, don’t get in it.”

21. 08/11/2011 – Eastern Surf Magazine – New Lennox 20 year old drowns – Drownings Uptick to 53

22. 08/11/2011 – Oceana Herald Journal – Veteran swimmer offers tips to battle rip currents – A veteran Great Lakes swimmer and recent surfer offered tips early this week to help people get out of rip currents.  According to Dave Benjamin, of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, as difficult as it might be, the first thing people need to do after being caught in a rip current is to stay calm. Benjamin said don’t fight the current and advised that people flip onto their backs, float and follow the current and then swim parallel with the shoreline until they are free. He said instinct tells people caught in rip currents to swim directly back to shore, but what happens is they can become tired and can lose the battle. “Sometimes, a rip current will bring you back to shore if you float long enough,” Benjamin said. Rip currents tend to be stronger along jetting walls and piers, Benjamin said, as water flows in along the walls and back out. “The current occurs at the surface of the water,” Benjamin said. “You want to get out of the current and get away from the wall.” Benjamin also offered tips for those attempting rescues. He said if people see a person in distress, make sure someone calls 9-1-1 before leaving the beach. He also said would -be rescuers will need to assess their swimming abilities and make sure to take something along that floats such as a cooler, surfboard, or tackle box. Once a person is in distress, Benjamin said, they could submerge within 30-60 seconds. “Many would-be rescuers can become drowning victims,” Benjamin said. “There’s always items on the beach or on the pier that can be used as a flotation device.” If using a surfboard during a rescue attempt, Benjamin said to make sure to keep the board between yourself and the person in distress, and never turn over the tether to the person in trouble. The organization has conducted several surfing safety class at various locations this summer, but nothing is planned for this area at the present time.

23. 08/11/2011 – Eastern Surf Magazine – Looking like another record year for 2011

24. 08/09/2011 – Grand Haven Tribune – Surfers learn lifesaving techniques – Sgt. Clint Holt of the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety was among the 22 people who attended the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project’s “Surfboard Rescue Techniques” class at the Grand Haven State Park pavilion on Sunday. “Surfers are the first-responders,” Holt said. “We’re thankful for you being out there. (You) even rescued one of our own once.” Participants at the rescue class were taught how to recognize the danger of the surf environment, how to survive rip currents, to know the signs of drowning, and how to use a surfboard or other flotation device to rescue a person in distress or in a rip current. “Surfers make hundreds of rescues per year,” instructor Bob Pratt said. “This training is geared for surfers who are in a unique position to rescue people because they have a floatation device.

25. 08/08/2011 – Eastern Surf Magazine – 2011 Great Lakes Drownings Reach 49, An Increase Of 2 From This Time Last Year

26. 08/08/2011 – Record Eagle – Rip Currents a danger in Great Lakes

27. 08/08/2011 – Record Eagle – Surfboard rescue class can be lifesaver

28. 08/08/2011 – WSJM RADIO, Andrew Green Reporting – More Rip Current Training for Surfers Planned in New Buffalo – Another training session is planned for New Buffalo this Sunday for Great Lakes surfers to learn how to recognize and rescue swimmers who are struggling in Lake Michigan. Dave Benjamin, with the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, tells WSJM that there’s already been a class in Saint Joseph, where attendees were taught all about rip currents — the number one cause of Great Lakes drownings — and how they can use their surf boards, or anything else, as flotation devices to save the distressed. The program is expanding to more than just surfers, though. Third Coast Surf Shop in New Buffalo will host the Surf Rescue Project’s next “Surfboard Rescue Techniques” class and “Third Coast Ocean Force” rip current awareness campaign Sunday, August 28th, at nine-30 AM, at Lions Pavilion Park and New Buffalo City Beach. Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend.

29. 08/07/2011 – WZZM 13 – Surfers to the Rescue

30. 08/05/2011 – Eastern Surf Magazine – Surfrider Foundation Partners With The “Surfboard Rescue Techniques” Class

31. 08/05/2011 – WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya – Free Safety Class Planned for Great Lake Surfers – HOLLAND, Mich. (CBS) — If you have the time to drive out to Holland, Mich., this weekend, you might want to take part in a surfer rescue and rip current awareness class — especially after the rough week on that side of Lake Michigan this week. As WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports, just Wednesday, 28 people were plucked from Lake Michigan in the Holland area, all because they were caught in rip currents. Dave Benjamin of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project says a free class is being offered Sunday morning at the Grand Haven State Park pavilion. “It’s going to teach the average beachgoer about water safety and rip current awareness, and it’s going to teach the surfers how to use their surfboard as a life-saving device,” Benjamin said. Benjamin says if you happen to get caught in a rip current in the lake, try to stay calm and don’t fight against the current. But do try to swim along the shoreline to try to get out of the current, and try to signal someone for help. The real season for lake surfers doesn’t take off until after Labor Day, but Benjamin says many surfers take advantage of good lake waves whenever they can get them.

32. 08/04/2011 – Eastern Surf Magazine – No Quarter Surfboards Partners With The “Surfboard Rescue Techniques” Class

33. 08/04/2011 – CBS 2 Chicago – Free Safety Class Planned for Great Lakes Surfers

34. 08/03/2011 – Eastern Surf Magazine – Great Lakes Surfing Association Partners with the “Surfboard Rescue Techniques” class

35. 08/03/2011 – Grand Haven Tribune – Surfboard Rescue Techniques class is Sunday

36. 08/02/2011 – Eastern Surf Magazine – Great Lakes Proud Partners with the “Surfboard Rescue Techniques” class

37. 08/01/2011 – Grand Haven Events – Grand Haven Surf Rescue Class

38. 08/01/2011 – Visit Grand Haven – Grand Haven Surf Rescue Class

39. 08/01/2011 – Surfrider – Great Lakes Chapter – Great Lakes Rescue Project presents: Surfboard Rescue Techniques Class at Grand Haven State Park

40. 08/01/2011 – WNDU – Drowning incidents rise across Great Lakes

41. 07/30/2011 – WPNW Radio 1260 am, The Pledge – Surfboard Rescue Techniques class to take place Aug. 7

42. 07/29/2011 – Muskegon Chronicle – Surfboard Rescue Techniques class to take place Aug. 7

43. 07/28/2011 – Grand Haven Tribune – Surfboard Rescue Techniques subject of safety demonstration

44. 07/25/2011 – Grand Haven Chamber of Commerce – Surfboard Rescue Techniques Class by The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project

45. 07/13/2011 – Eastern Surf Magazine – Beach Nut Surf Shop Partners With The “Surfboard Rescue Techniques” Class

46. 07/09/2011 – Great Lakes Surfer Magazine – Interested in learning some rescue techniques for those in danger at the beach??

47. July 7, 2011 – Eastern Surf Magazine – Classroom Host – Surfboard Rescue Class – Betsie Bay Inn

48. 07/07/2011 – Great Lakes Echo – Great Lakes drownings reach 23, up one from this time last year – Fourteen people have drowned in the Great Lakes since May 22, bringing this year’s total to 23, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. The latest victim was five-year-old Tyon McNeil of Harvey, Ill., who died Sunday night in Lake Michigan. The drowning caused this year’s total so far to pass the total for this time last year. Bob Pratt and Dave Benjamin have launched this summer a campaign to bring awareness to rip currents, which are the primary cause of drownings in the Great Lakes. Their next event is July 17 in Frankfort, Mich. Rip current alerts are available by joining their Facebook page.

49. 07/06/2011 – My Fit TV – Great Lakes Drowning incidents up

50. 07/06/2011 – WNDU – Great Lakes drowning incidents up

51. 07/06/2011 – WSJM – Program Aims To Train Surfers To Rescue Drowning Swimmers

52. 07/05/2011 – Up North Live – Surfboard Rescue Techniques Class

53. July 5, 2011 – Interlochen Public Radio, Tom Kramer – Water Safety Segment

54. 06/11/2018 – Landmark Forum News – Third Coast Ocean Force Aims to Prevent Great Lakes Drownings – With the mantra, “without action there are no results”, I realized that lives are at stake and created the community project, “Third Coast Ocean Force”. The title, “Third Coast Ocean Force” was created because the Great Lakes are sometimes referred to as the “Third Coast” of the United States and it can have “Ocean Force” rip currents during windy weather conditions.

The project currently has two tiers:

“Surfboard Rescue Techniques” classes for Great Lakes surfers and Great Lakes professional water rescue personnel on how to use surfboards as lifesaving devices. These classes will also encourage lake surfers to obtain CPR certificates, Life Guard Certificates, and publicize instances where lake surfers or water rescue personnel rescued swimmers from rip currents/drowning with surfboards.

Rip Current Public Service Announcements (PSA’s) A summer-long campaign via TV news Medias, newspaper Medias, social media networking, online forums, blogging, etc.

On Sunday, June 5, the project’s first rescue training event took place in St. Joseph (pictures shown here), with 20 participants taking part in a Surfboard rescue class that included in-water training. We have another “Surfboard Rescue Techniques Class Scheduled for Sunday, July 17, 2011 in Frankfort, MI – there are also request for this class in Michigan City, IN; Chicago, IL; Milwaukee, WI; Sheboygan, WI; and Duluth, MN. While researching for this project, I discovered that several organizations were already in action regarding these causes, so I created partnership with The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project and the National Weather Service.

55. 06/07/2011 – Sweetwater Salvation – Third Coast Surf Shop Blog: “Surfers Save Lives (pic and vid)”

56. 06/07/2011 – WNDU – Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project educates surfers

57. 06/06/2011 – Matuli Paddle Surf – Lifesaving for Surfers, Surf Rescue Project – Many surfers in the Great Lakes are unsung heroes who have saved many lives because they have spotted swimmers in trouble while catching waves. Surfers have a strong knowledge of the dangers the water presents, and they are often in a good position to spot and make a rescue. Eight year Ocean lifeguard Joe Matulis was one of the speakers at the Third Coast Ocean Force Rip Currents conference and workshop held in St. Joseph, Michigan on June 5, 2011. Matulis was asked to share his professional knowledge about spotting potential rescues. “If you are seeing someone climbing the ladder, you are already too late,” Matulis said. “You are not going to have enough time to get out there.”

58. 06/06/2011 – Lifeguard4life – Video “Lifesaving for Surfers” – Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project “Surfboard Rescue Techniques” class’ water session

59. June 6, 2011 – Lifeguard4life –Lifesaving for Surfers – Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project

60. June 5, 2011 – Herald Palladium – Surfers ready to become lifesavers

61. 06/05/2011 – WNDU NewsSpot – Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project’s “Surfboard Rescue Techniques” class on the beach.

62. 06/04/2011 – WJYS Radio – Water Safety Segment

63. 06/03/2011 – Great Lakes Echo – Ocean-force rip currents threaten Great Lakes swimmers – Benton Harbor High School senior Terrell Burton lost his life to rip currents May 22 in Lake Michigan. The 19-year-old reportedly dove off the pier at Silver Beach in St. Joseph, Mich., and became the 10th person in 2011 to drown in the Great Lakes. Such Great Lakes fatalities prompted Dave Benjamin, of Chicago, and Bob Pratt, of East Lansing, Mich., to create the Third Coast Ocean Force, a project to save lives by creating rip current awareness. A rip current is a strong, usually narrow surface current flowing outward from a shore. It results from the return flow of waves and wind-driven water. In Burton’s case, there were only 2-foot waves and 13 mile-per-hour winds. “A lot of people think they can’t drown in lake waves,” Benjamin said. “The Great Lakes can have ocean-force rip currents under windy weather conditions.”