FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project
Dave Benjamin, Executive Director of Public Relations, 708-903-0166
dave.benjamin@glsrp.org
www.GLSRP.org
Bob Pratt, Executive Director of Education, 517-643-2553
Hawaiian big wave surfer and ocean lifeguard visiting Milwaukee
to raise money and awareness for Great Lakes Water Safety
GLSRP calling for Water Safety School Curriculum
GLSRP surfing Racine Friday morning
MILWAUKEE, WI – The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project (GLSRP) announces that Clear Water Outdoor will celebrate “Anywhere Aloha” Friday March 27, 2015, 5:00 p.m., 250 N. Water St., Milwaukee, WI. The event is presented by OluKai and will be featuring special guest speakers Archie Kalepa and Bob Pratt.
“Archie is the rock star of the lifeguarding world,” said Rob Garrett, OluKai representative. “He was a pioneer for innovative lifesaving techniques – the first to use a jet ski as a rescue tool.”
Archie Kalepa was one of Hawaii’s greatest ocean sports pioneers, Hawaiian Lifeguard, and Director of Maui County Ocean Safety Division. He retired last year and joined OluKai as its fulltime Konohiki (caretaker).
Bob Pratt, Executive Director of Education, of the GLSRP and the 2012 NDPA Lifesaver of the Year Award winner will be presenting the “State of the Great Lakes” and share its 2015 water safety drowning prevention efforts in the Great Lakes.
The event will include food, drinks, entertainment, product demos and a raffle. Proceeds of OluKai sales from the event will benefit the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, an organization born in the Midwest with a mission to teach Great Lakes water safety and prevent drownings.
GLSRP CALLING FOR WATER SAFETY SCHOOL CURRICULUM
The GLSRP is leading the call for a Water Safety School Curriculum to launch in the Great Lakes Region and then nationwide.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) drowning is the:
- Leading cause of accidental injury death for children 1-4
- 2nd leading cause of accidental death for children 1-14, second only to car accidents
- 5th leading cause of accidental death for the entire nation
- 3rd leading cause of accidental death worldwide
Today schools have fire drills, tornado drills, active shooter drills, and some even have earthquake drills, but very few have any water safety education?
Unfortunately, though, each year more school age children will die drowning than in fires, tornadoes, school shootings and earthquakes combined.
The GLSRP is leading the call for a Water Safety School Curriculum for elementary, junior high, high school students, the parents of each age group, and instructors of the curriculum to directly address the drowning epidemic.
SUNRISE SURFING IN RACINE
The north winds forecasted over Lake Michigan Friday should produce some decent waves in the morning in Racine. The GLSRP executive directors plan to take full advantage of the forecast while on the west side of Lake Michigan. Come check us out.
PORT WASHINGTON PRESENTATIONS
The GLSRP will be returning to Port Washington May 29 and 30 for school presentations and Port’s Third Annual Water Safety Day. This will be the fourth time in three years that the GLSRP has been invited to present in Port Washington (2013, 2014 Presentation).
GLSRP PHOTO ALBUMS
- School Presentations
- Public Presentations
- Open Water Surf Lifeguard Training
- Open Water Surf Lifeguard In-service Training
- First Responders Presentations
Follow the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project at:
Like GLSRP’s Facebook Page
On Twitter @ripcurrentsafeT
Website: www.glsrp.org
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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.
Mission: To eradicate drownings by being the leader of Great Lakes water safety by providing training, public preparedness, and public awareness.
Vision: Everyone in the Great Lakes region, nationwide and worldwide, is knowledgeable, engaged and proactive in water safety with an emphasis on the Great Lakes region.
GLSRP ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The GLSRP has performed over 60 Great Lakes Water Safety classes in 6 of the 8 Great Lakes states; Presented at the NDPA’s 12th Annual Symposium, March 2013 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Presented at the 2nd International Rip Current Symposium Nov. 2012 in Sydney, Australia; the 2012 winner of the “Outstanding Service to the Great Lakes Community” award presented by the Dairyland Surf Classic; the 2012 “Lifesaver of the Year” award winner; and presented at the NDPA’s 11th Annual Symposium in San Diego, March 2012.
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