GREAT LAKES WATER SAFETY

GREAT LAKES SURF RESCUE PROJECT

John

Welcome & Goals

SPECTRUM

SAFER----------------------------------------LESS SAFE

KNOWLEDGE

IS POWER !!

SCOPEDrowning is the second leading cause

of accidental death in children under 15.

Males are 3.7 times more likely to drown than females. Minorities have 2-3 times the drowning rates of non-minorities.

Last year there were 68 drownings in the Great Lakes. There have been 340 fatal drownings since 2010.

The United States Lifesaving Association estimates 80% of the rescues at surf beaches are due to rip currents.

Drowning kills more people than fire, tornadoes, and lightening COMBINED.

Drowning kills more people than fire, tornadoes, and lightening COMBINED.

Yet we have fire and tornado drills in schools nationwide!

TWO RULES:

TWO RULES:

1. DON’T PANIC1. DON’T PANIC

2. KNOW HOW 2. KNOW HOW TO SURVIVETO SURVIVE

RISK BENEFIT

KNOWLEDGE

IS POWER !!

NEAR-SHORE CURRENTS

• Most drownings occur during ‘moderate’ conditions.

• Rips can occur when waves are 1-2 feet and increase in size and strength as wave size grows.

• Rip currents can flow faster than Olympic swimmers can swim.

Waves break over the sand bar and water rushes back through a channel in the bar. The flow eases between sandbars.DO NOT FIGHT THE CURRENT!

Pier Rip Currents

• Great Lakes rip currents also form at piers and jetties.• These rips can extend well past the structure.• Victims who jump or are swept off piers maybe caught in these rips.

SEICHE

BEACH FLAGS

OFF SHORE WINDS

KNOWLEDGE

IS POWER !!

TWO RULES:

1. DON’T PANIC1. DON’T PANIC

2. KNOW HOW 2. KNOW HOW TO SURVIVETO SURVIVE

RISK BENEFIT

KNOWLEDGE

IS POWER !!

THERE IS NO WAVING!

THERE IS NO YELLING!

KNOWLEDGE

IS POWER !!

KNOWLEDGE

IS POWER !!

TWO RULES:

1. DON’T PANIC1. DON’T PANIC

2. KNOW HOW 2. KNOW HOW TO SURVIVETO SURVIVE

REVIEW:• Safety as a continuum

– SAFER-------------------------LESS SAFE

• Understand Currents– Get off the treadmill

• FFF – Flip, Float & Follow!!

• Drowning– No waving, no yelling

• Rescue– Know yourself, your ability, take flotation.