Saturday, July 14, 2012

Chicago represents 50% of the Lake Michigan drownings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project
Dave Benjamin, Executive Director of Public Relations, 708-903-0166
Bob Pratt, Executive Director of Education, 517-643-2553

46 Great Lakes Drownings = 207 since 2010
Drownings at a 100% increase on Lake Michigan
Chicagoland represents 50% of the Lake Michigan drownings

GREAT LAKES, USA – The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project (GLSRP) announces its current drowning statistics as a 19 year old North Avenue Beach drowning victim in critical condition may be fighting for his life.  

Romero Roundtree, 16, of Chicago becomes the 44th person to drown in the Great Lakes in 2012, and the 24th person to drown in Lake Michigan while a 7-year-old boy and his 10-year-old sister were pronounced dead after being pulled from Lake Erie in Port Burwell Friday. They are the 45th and 46th people to drown in the Great Lakes

Drownings in Lake Michigan are currently at a 100% increase over 2011.

Overall since 2010, 207 people have drowned in the Great Lakes (74 in 2010; 87 in 2011; and 46 to date in 2012). Drownings on the Great Lakes are currently at a 84% increase over this date in 2011; and a 70% increase over 2010. 
Drowning Percentage Calculation
July 14, 2012 drownings to date is 46;
July 14, 2011 drownings to date was 25; up 84%
July 14, 2010 drownings to date was 27; up 70%

BEACH AND WATER SAFETY TIPS
--When in doubt, don’t go out.  Know your limits and the limits of your friends and family at the beach.
--Designate Water Watchers (The Water Watcher Card) by Safe Kids USA
--Constant uninterrupted adult supervision of children; i.e. Keep children within arm’s reach – aka hands-on touch supervision
--Know the signs of Drowning
--Know the Michigan Sea Grant’s “Flip, Float, and Follow” rip current survival strategy
--Don’t jump off piers or break walls.
--Obey posted warning flags (Green, Yellow, Red)
--Swim at guarded beaches
--Never swimming alone or in unsupervised places. Teach children to always swim with a friend.
--Refraining from swimming beyond skill level

###

The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, Inc. (GLSRP) is about saving lives.  It is a nonprofit corporation that is a Chapter of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA) that tracks drowning statistics, teaches “Water Safety Surf Rescue” classes, and leads the “Third Coast Ocean Force” rip current awareness campaign on the Great Lakes.

It has been selected to present at the 2nd International Rip Current Symposium Nov. 1st, 2012 in Sydney, Australia; the 2012 winner of the “Outstanding Service to the Great Lakes Community” award presented by the Dairyland Surf Classic; the 2011 “Lifesaver of the Year” award winner; and a presenter at the NDPA’s 11th Annual Symposium in San Diego, March 9, 2012.

FREE "Water Safety Surf Rescue" class scheduled for the summer.  The “Water Safety Surf Rescue” classes are FREE and OPEN to the public, surfers, lifeguards, police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, water rescue team members, dive team members, and the Coast Guard.  Walk-ins welcome or RSVP to Dave Benjamin, 708-903-0166.

All 2012 “Water Safety Surf Rescue” class dates and cities:
1. Sun., June 03, St. Joseph, MI
2. Sat., June 23, Frankfort, MI
3. Sun., June 24, Ogden Dunes, IN
4. Wed., July 11, Coloma, MI – Berrien County Fire Fighters Association
5. Sat., July 21 Duluth, MN
6. Sun., July 29, Washburn, WI – Tom Blake Board Across the Bay Festival
7. Sat., Aug 4, South Haven, MI
8. Sun., Aug. 5, Grand Haven, MI
9. Mon., Aug 13, Coloma, MI [Private class]
10. Sun., August 19, New Buffalo, MI
11. Sun., Sept. 3, Sheboygan, WI
More dates to be announced soon…

The class will teach participants how to:
·         Recognize the danger of the surf environment keeping personal safety as THE primary responsibility
·         Understand rip currents; i.e. how, where, and why rip currents occur and how to survive rips;
·         Know the “Signs of Drowning” – How to identify a person in trouble from within a crowd.
·         How to perform the Michigan Sea Grant’s “Flip, Float, and Follow” rip current survival strategy
·         Summon help and use a surfboard or other flotation device to rescue a person in distress or in a rip current
·         React when encountering swimmers who have suffered an injury or unconscious
·         Enroll in lifesaving, first aid and CPR training from accredited agencies.

2012Great Lakes Drownings   
(46 as of July 14)
(Info provided by the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project)

LAKE MICHIGAN
1.      Sun.           01/08   John Doe                                 M-30s Chicago                      
2.      Tue.           01/24   Brittany Finley                        22-F     Oak Creek, WI           
3.      Sun.           02/05   John Doe                                 M-50s Chicago
4.      Fri.             03/02   Talmadge “Todd” Channell    35-M   Chicago                       ?
5.      Sun.           03/04   Philip Patnaude                       28-M   Chicago                       Fell in Harbor
6.      Mon.          03/05   Rasheed Mariano                    17-M   Waukegan, IL             Pier Jump
7.      Sat.            03/10   Peter Dougherty                      24-M   Port Washington, WI  Kayaking
8.      Mon.          03/26   Jane Doe                                 ?-F       Chicago                      
9.      Wed.         04/11   Willie Edward Hurse              33-M   Beverly Shores, IN    
10.  Sun.           04/22   David Dickerson                     43-M   Grand Traverse Bay    Canoe
11.  Wed.        05/19   Maurice Blandin                     21-M   North Ave. Beach, IL ?
12.  Thur.          05/24   Lexie Adu                               15-F     Chicago, Loyola Park Rip Current
13.  Sat.            05/26   Jane Doe                                 36-F     59th Street harbor       ?
14.  Mon.          05/28   Jorge Garduno                        20-M   Zion, Illinois                Swimming
15.  Sat.            06/02   Ling Lang Zou                        24-F     Ludington, MI                        ?
16.  Tues.          06/12   George Sosa                            14-M   Chicago, IL North Ave. Beach
17.  Fri.             06/15   Christian Ouding                    13-M   Grand Haven, MI
18.  Mon.          06/17   Leonel Dominguez                  31-M   Beverly Shores, IN
19.  Mon.          06/17   Joseph Hall                              58-M   Pere Marquette Park, MI
20.  Tues.          06/19   Alexander Hines                     26-M   St. Joseph, MI             Fall from pier
21.  Wed.         06/20   Maleisa Brown                        3-F       South Haven, MI
22.  Wed.         07/04   Mahlik J. Harris                       ?-M      31St Street Beach, Chicago
23.  Sun.           07/08   Corey McFry                           15-M   Portage, IN     Possible Rip Current
24.  Thur.          07/12   Romero Roundtree                 16-M   Chicago, IL                

LAKE SUPERIOR
25.  Mon.          06/11   Jeffery Carlos Watson Jr.,       13-M   Duluth, MN
26.  Sun.           06/17   Robert Weitzel                        57-M   Pigeon Bay Point, MN Kayak
27.  Tues.          06/26   Derril Yerigan                         52-M   Whitefish Point, MI    Scuba Diving
28.  Thur.          07/05   William Jaksha                        54-M   Ontonagon
29.  Wed.         07/11   Jane Doe                                 89-F     Grand Marais

LAKE ONTARIO
30.  Sat.            01/21   J. Doe                                      ?-?       Boulevard Club
31.  Thur.          02/09   John Doe                                 M-47   Burloak Waterfront Park
32.  Sun.           02/26   J. Doe                                      ?-?       Queen’s Quay            
33.  Wed.         02/29   Mathieu LeClair                     20-M   Kingston, Ont.                       
34.  Fri.             03/16   John Doe                                 20-M   Toronto                       Fall
35.  Fri.           04/13  Jane Doe                                  ?-F       Etobicoke Yacht Club
36.  Sat.            04/21   David Tuttle                            ?-M      Henderson, NY
37.  Sun.           06/16   Marcos A. Peralta                   27-M   Fair Haven Beach       Pier Jumping
38.  Sun.           07/08   John Doe                                 16-M   Wilson, NY     Swimming near Pier

LAKE ERIE
39.  Wed.         05/23   Gregory Gulko                        45-M   Point Pelee      Sailing
40.  Thur.          06/21   John Doe                                 22-M   Lake Erie Harbor        Pier Jumping
41.  Wed.         06/26   Laura Recco                            47-F     Huntington Beach, Ohio Rip Current
42.  Thur.          07/04   Anthony Norman                    23-M   Avon Lake, Ohio        Fishing           
43.  Fri.             07/13   John Doe                                 7-M  Port Burwell, Ont.      Swimming
44.  Fri.             07/13   Jane Doe                                 10-F     Port Burwell, Ont.      Swimming

LAKE HURON
45.  Sun.           07/01   Jeno Bujtas                              27-M   Grand Bend
46.  Mon.          07/09   Mohammed Zindani               7-M     Port Huron


2010 Great Lakes Drowning’s
74 (32 via Rip Currents)
Info provided by the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project

Note: An asterisk identifies a “would be rescuer”.
LAKE MICHIGAN:
1.      Tues           01/26   Mauricio Guaylias                   27-M   Chicago                       Unknown
2.      Tues           03/02   Richard Wieting,                     53-M   Montrose (Chi.)           Unknown
3.      Tues           04/18   John Doe                                     -M   Zion                             Unknown
4.      Sun            04/25   Ryan Lightfoot                       28-M   Petoskey                      Canoeing   
5.      Sun            04/25   Clifford Denay                       27-M   Petoskey                      Canoeing  
6.      Thurs         05/27   Katlyn LeClaire                      13-F     Escanaba                     step -off
7.      Sat             05/29   Kelvin Motsinger                    9-M    Green Bay                    Unknown       
8.      Wed          06/09   Sofia Khan                              9-F       Holland WI                 kayaking
9.      Wed          06/09   DeVale Thompson                  16-M   Whiting                       Pier jump
10.  Sat             06/19   Vidyasagar Kapoor                 30-M   Chicago                       Unknown
11.  Tues           06/22   Antoine Miller                         21-M   Waukegan                   swimming
12.  Fri              06/25   Paris Bankhead                       20-M   Ill Beach St. Park        swimming
13.  Sun            07/04   Destiny Bahena                       9-F       Ind. Dunes                  rip current*
14.  Sun            07/04   William Lott                            25-M   Silver Lk. St. Park       rip current
15.  Sun            07/11   Perla Solis                               6-F      Covert Park                 unknown
16.  Fri              07/16   Jordy Graves                           17-M   South Haven               rip current
17.  Sat             07/17   James Savage                          55-M   Garfield Twp              swimming
18.  Fri              07/23   Mark Scheuer                          49-M   Grand Haven              rip current*
19.  Sun            07/25   Alfonso Quintero                    26-M   St. Joe                         rip current
20.  Sun            07/25   Jeremiah Green                       12-M   Racine                         unknown
21.  Sun            07/25   Lindsay Bilka                          17-F     Muskegon MI             rip current
22.  Mon           07/26   Kristopher Kane                      19-M   Sheboygan WI                        rip current
23.  Thur           08/05   Richard Drake                         67-M   Covert Park                 rip current
24.  Thur           08/05   Arther Walker                         71-M   Covert Park                 rip current
25.  Fri              08/06   Patrick Reymann                     63-M   Harbor Springs            kayaking
26.  Sun            08/08   Cody Prentiss                          15-M   Calumet Park              unknown
27.  Wed          08/11   Roman Bravo                          19-M   Ill. Beach St Park        unknown
28.  Sat             08/14   Anthony Goldsmith                44-M   Ludington MI             rip current
29.  Sun            08/15   Enrica Lorenz                          27-F     Muskegon MI             rip current
30.  Mon           08/16   Ethan Seitzer                           10-M   Berrien County           rip current
31.  Mon           08/16   Dolsey Lynn Squires               41-F     Gr. Traverse Bay         rip current
32.  Thur           08/19   Richard Habermas                  76-M   Grand haven               rip current
33.  Sun            08/22   Lorenzo Greer                         17-M   Mich. City IN             rip current
34.  Sun            08/22   Scott Hoover                           14-M   Mich. City IN             rip current
35.  Fri              09/03   Timothy Horvath                    26-M   Lincoln Twp MI          rip current
36.  Mon           09/03   Anupam Bhattacharjee           26-M   Ludington MI             pier wash-off
37.  Sun            09/13   Daniel Logsdon                      23-M   Warren Dunes             unknown
38.  Sat             09/18   Timothy Spiller                       49-M   Ludington                   fall from pier

LAKE ERIE
39.  Mon           06/28   Andrew Mooney         21-M   Long Beach ONT                   rip current
40.  Tues           07/06   Louis Barba                 16-M   Sterling St. Park MI                swimming
41.  Thurs         07/08   Anthony Alexander    17-M   Mentor OH                             rip current
42.  Sun            07/11   Chris Alkerton                        18-M   Rock Point      ONT                swimming
43.  Wed          07/14   Victor Arce Jr.                        30-M   Westfield        NY                  swimming
44.  Tues           07/27   Edwin Acosta             41-M   Cleveland        OH                  swim/boat
45.  Sun            08/08   Nate Polosito              14-M   Westfield        OH                  rip current
46.  Mon           08/16   Marco Butler               18-M   Rock Point      ONT                rip current
47.  Thur           08/19   John Doe                     40s-M  Erie                  PA                   unknown
48.  Thur           08/19   John Doe                     53-M   Sherkston        ONT                rip current
49.  Mon           08/23   Cynthia Riediger         53-F     Pelee Island     ONT                rip current*
50.  Mon           09/06   Harallamb Tasi            24-M   Monroe MI                              swimming       
51.  Fri              09/11   Marshal Sharpe           58-M   Hamilton ONT                        fishing
52.  Sun            10/10   Mohammed Aljiboori 19-M   Cleveland OH                         Unknown

LAKE SUPERIOR:
53.  Sat             07/03  Marvin Charette          18-M   Red Cliff                                 Unknown
54.  Wed          07/21   Rod Nilsestuen           62-M  Picnic Rocks                           rip current
55.  Thur           08/05   Elias Jenkins                15-M   Presque Isle                             rip current
56.  Thur           08/05   Alex Schuiteman         16-M   Presque Isle                             rip current
57.  Thur           08/05   Douglas Smith                        50-M   Grand Marais                          rip current
58.  Thur           08/05   Eric Smith                   16-M   Grand Marais                          rip current
59.  Fri              08/27   Devante Billups          18-M  Picnic Rocks                           swimming

LAKE ONTARIO:
60.  Mon           03/29   Jill Williams                 85-F     Sodus N.Y.                             Unknown
61.  Fri              05/28   Edward McMillon      20-M   Rochester NY                         Pier Jump
62.  Wed          06/09   John Doe                     23-M   Pt. Dalhousie                           fall from pier
63.  Fri              07/22   Justin Callahan            29-M   Brighton ONT                         kayaking
64.  Wed          07/28   Mehmet Yilmaz          22-M   Irondequoit Bay                      swim/boat
65.  Fri              08/06   Richard Woodall         77-M   Ellisburg ONT                         fishing
66.  Thur           09/02   Michael Steger            36-M   Olcott NY                               fishing

LAKE HURON:
67.  Sun            04/16   Lawrence Burack        61-M   Saginaw Bay                           Fishing
68.  Tues           06/29   Douglas Rucinskas      5-M     Bayfield ONT                         rip current
69.  Tues           06/29   Andrew Rucinskas      48-M   Bayfield ONT                         rip current*
70.  Sun            07/25   George Georgion Jr     16-M   Lexington MI                          rip current
71.  Tues           07/27   Joseph Lathan             18-M   Conneaut OH                          pier jump
72.  Sun            08/15   John Doe                     10-M   Georgan Bay                           canoeing
73.  Mon           08/16   Oksana Milovanovic   16-F     Kincardine ONT                     rip current
Thurs   08/19   John Doe                     24-M   Sauble Beach ONT  

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