Great Lakes to Present at San Diego Drowning Symposium

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 29, 2012

Contact:

Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project

Dave Benjamin, Executive Director and Public Relations

708-903-0166

Great Lakes to Present in San Diego –

at NDPA’s 11^th Annual Drowning Symposium

SAN DIEGO, CA – The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project will be presenting its "Water Safety Surf Rescue" class, “Third Coast Ocean Force” Rip Current awareness campaign, and tracking of drowning statistics at the National Drowning Prevention Alliance’s 11th Annual Symposium, March 7 – 10, 2012 in San Diego, California at the Grand Hyatt Mission Bay, 1441 Quivera Rd. [The GLSRP members will be in San Diego, Monday, March 5^th.]

“Presenting allows us to bring the issues unique to the Great Lakes to a national forum,” said Bob Pratt, Surf Rescue Class Instructor.  “Our rip currents are different; they are caused by short fetch windswells, and our piers are solid structures that exacerbate the rip current problem causing a lot of flash rips and ‘washing machine’ like conditions.”

The Great Lakes have a short swimming season (typically three months), yet has a high number of drownings each year (74 in 2010; 87 in 2011; a two-year total of 161).

“Addressing these challenges at the symposium may result in greater interest by researchers and may also result in expanded funding,” Pratt added.  “The ultimate goal is and will always be the prevention of drowning by increased education and a culture of respect for the power of the Lakes.”

“We will showcase the broad range of efforts taking place in the Great Lakes region. While the region may be struggling economically, volunteer and non-profit groups have stepped in to fill voids caused by a lack of lifeguards and cuts to public safety and education.”

The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project believes its class can serve as a national model bringing diverse groups of people together (the general public, Great Lakes surfers, law enforcement, and water rescue professionals) with the common goal of saving lives. 

The class teaches participants how to recognize the danger of the surf environment; understand rip currents (i.e. how, where, and why rip currents occur); how to survive rips; 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.

“The symposium brings together experts from across the country, and across industries, to pursue one critical goal… to prevent drowning,” said Tiffaney Isaacson, President of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance.

“Networking is an important part of success in preventing drownings, and we have selected some of the best and brightest experts in the country with engaging presentations and exhibits.”

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MORE INFORMATION about the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH – List of Businesses and Organizations

In the News – Overall Media Coverage

ABOUT THE NATIONAL DROWNING PREVENTION ALLIANCE

The National Drowning Prevention Alliance is a volunteer-driven 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization founded in 2004. NDPA members are dedicated to preventing drowning for all age groups in all bodies of water through public education, advocacy and strategic partnerships. The public is invited to join by visiting www.ndpa.org.    

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OTHER NEWS

1. Surf’s up, but Matteson man wants number of drownings down Feature Story , Photo Gallery
2. ‘Lifesaver of the Year’ Award Winner Assists Rescue on FL Vacation
3. Bob Pratt Winner of the Lifesaver of the Year Award
4. Video: Hero from New Buffalo beach rescue getting national honor – NDPA 'Lifesaver of the Year' Award
5. Fire Marshal Retires - Takes Helm of Surf Rescue Project
6. Bob Pratt Lifesaver Year Award - Top 10
7. Great Lakes drownings rise to 87 in 2011; a two-year total of 161
8. Great Lakes Presenting at San Diego Symposium
9. Co-Executive Director’s drowning experience turns into Rescue Project
10. Chasing the chilling waves — whenever they can
11. Video: Great Lakes surfers save drowning victims
12. Video: Surfers to the Rescue

PICTURES of “Water Safety Surf Rescue” Classes

1. June 5, 2011 – St. Joseph, MI – Classroom and Water Session
2. August 7, 2011 – Grand Haven, MI – Classroom and Water Session
3. August 28, 2011 – New Buffalo, MI – Classroom and Water Session
4. August 28, 2011 – New Buffalo, MI – Boy rescued from rip current
5. September 18, 2011 – Whiting, IN – Classroom and Water Session

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Lifesaver of the Year Award Winner Assists Florida Rescue

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 26, 2012

Contact:

Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project

Dave Benjamin, Executive Director and Media Relations, 708-903-0166

Bob Pratt, Executive Director, 517-643-2553

NDPA’s Lifesaver of the Year Award Winner

Assists rescue while on vacation in Florida

INDIAN HARBOR BEACH, FL & GREAT LAKES, USA – On Friday, February 24, 2012, Bob Pratt, executive director of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, assisted three Brevard County lifeguards in the battle against offshore winds to rescue three people who were swept out to sea on an inflatable raft. (Photo album of the rescue.)

Pratt saw the initial start of the rescue from his 10^th floor hotel room.

“I saw the guards take off and thought they were doing a training exercise,” said Pratt.  “When I saw how far they were paddling out, I got the binoculars out and saw the lifeguards about two miles offshore towing an inflatable raft with three people on board.”

Pratt called 911 to request marine backup, but his call was transferred to three different departments (the sheriff’s department, fire department, and coast guard) only to find out that there was now rescue boats or jet skis available.

Frustrated, Pratt ran to the beach and paddled about half mile out to the group and put one woman on his 14’ Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP).

Overall, the entire rescue spanned about five miles of open water and took over two hours to bring the victims in. 

“Had the guards not noticed them or made contact they would have been many miles out to sea and in pitch darkness within three hours,” Pratt added.  “What is crazy is that they do not have backup from jet-skis or other rescue boats. One ski would have made this rescue in less than ten minutes. They did send a helicopter, but it had no rescue capability.”

“Wow! Right place at the right time again, Bob,” Lori Stoll-Westlake said on FaceBook.

“Offshore winds pose problems that the public needs to be aware of on the ocean and the Great Lakes,” Pratt concluded.

On June 10, 2010, in Holland, Wisconsin, nine-year-old Sofia Khan from Illinois was vacationing with her family in eastern Wisconsin when the girl drifted away from shore in a kayak.  The girl's father tried to swim out to the kayak, but strong winds pushed it farther and faster than he could swim.

OTHER GREAT LAKES SURF RESCUE PROJECT NEWS

1. Bob Pratt Winner of the Lifesaver of the Year Award
2. Fire Marshal Retires - Takes Helm of Surf Rescue Project
3. Bob Pratt Lifesaver Year Award - Top 10
4. Great Lakes drownings rise to 87 in 2011; a two-year total of 161
5. Great Lakes Presenting at San Diego Symposium
6. Co-Executive Director’s drowning experience turns into Rescue Project

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MORE INFORMATION about the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH – List of Businesses and Organizations

In the News – Overall Media Coverage

Lockport Firefighter Instrumental with Lifesaver Year Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 6, 2012

Contact:

Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project

Dave Benjamin, Executive Director and Public Relations, 708-903-0166

Nick Rymut, Lockport Fire Department, 630-746-3491

Fire Chief David Skoryi, Lockport Fire Department, (815) 838-3287 

Lockport Firefighter Instrumental

with Lifesaver of the Year Award

LOCKPORT, IL – The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project acknowledges Lockport firefighter, Nick Rymut, for his role in August 28 rip current rescue in New Buffalo, MI. 

The rescue contributed to the “Lifesaver of the Year” Award for Bob Pratt of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project presented by the National Drowning Prevention Alliance and the USA Swimming Foundation.

“I never really look for notoriety for things of this nature,” said Rymut.  “I’m happy for what this can do for the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project and glad that Bob is recognized for all of his amazing efforts.”

On January 21, Rymut was presented with a Medal of Commendation at the Lockport Fire Department annual awards banquet.

“Nick is a rescue minded person,” said Lockport Fire Chief, David Skoryi.  “I’m not surprised that he would take the surf rescue class and get right to work putting it to use rescuing someone.  He’s a young sharp kid.”

THE SURF RESCUE

On August 28 approximately 30 minutes after the “Surfboard Rescue Techniques” class in New Buffalo, MI, Bob Pratt and one of his class participants, Nick Rymut, rescued a boy drowning in a rip current. (Nick made the initial contact with the boy and Bob assisted. There’s links to pictures of the New Buffalo rescue and surf rescue class, and TV news coverage of the Grand Haven class.)

Nick, a firefighter and paramedic, for the Lockport Township Fire Department in Illinois was catching some surf after the class and immediately jumped into action when he saw the boy caught in the rip current.

The boy was displaying the signs of drowning in the thick surf – facing shore, mouth at water level, a terrified look in his face, and ‘climbing the ladder’ motion in the water.

Bob was standing on shore near a lifeguard stand speaking with a lifeguard and New Buffalo police officers when he saw the boy displaying the signs too. He then sprinted into the water to assist.

THE LIFESAVER OF THE YEAR AWARD

The nomination for the “Lifesaver of the Year” award for the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project's, Bob Pratt, was based on the rip current rescue in New Buffalo August 28 and the GLSRP’s 2011 tracking of Great Lakes drowning statistics, six “Surfboard Rescue Techniques” classes, and rip current awareness campaign along the coast of Lake Michigan

Last year six surf rescue classes were taught to the general public, lifeguards, police officers, fire fighters, water rescue teams and dive team members. A member of the U.S. Coast Guard even attended the July 17 class in Frankfort, MI.

“I'm truly honored,” said Bob Pratt, Executive Director of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. “I really consider this as a team award, the result of our team effort.”

PICTURES of 2011 “Water Safety Surf Rescue” Classes

1. June 5, 2011 – St. Joseph, MI – Classroom and Water Session
2. August 7, 2011 – Grand Haven, MI – Classroom and Water Session
3. August 28, 2011 – New Buffalo, MI – Classroom and Water Session
4. August 28, 2011 – New Buffalo, MI – Boy rescued from rip current
5. September 18, 2011 – Whiting, IN – Classroom and Water Session

VIDEO

August 8, 2011 – TV News Coverage– Surfers to the Rescue, Grand Haven, MI

OTHER NEWS

1. Bob Pratt Winner of the Lifesaver of the Year Award
2. Fire Marshal Retires - Takes Helm of Surf Rescue Project
3. Bob Pratt Lifesaver Year Award - Top 10
4. Great Lakes drownings rise to 87 in 2011; a two-year total of 161
5. Great Lakes Representing in San Diego Symposium
6. About the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project
7. Dave’s Drowning Experience

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

1. The GLSRP’s Bob Pratt  wins 2011 “Lifesaver of the Year” Award
2. The GLSRP will be presenting its work at the National Drowning Prevention Alliance’s 11^th Annual Symposium in San Diego, March 7 – 10

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MORE INFORMATION about the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH – List of Businesses and Organizations

In the News – Overall Media Coverage

Ret. Fire Marshal Wins Lifesaver of the Year Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 6, 2012

Contact:

Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project

Dave Benjamin, Executive Director and Public Relations, 708-903-0166

Bob Pratt, Executive Director, 517-643-2553

Ret. Fire Marshal Wins Lifesaver of the Year Award

Award to be presented at symposium in San Diego this March

GREAT LAKES, USA – The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project is proud to announce that its executive director, Bob Pratt, won the “Lifesaver of the Year” Award presented by the National Drowning Prevention Alliance and the USA Swimming Foundation.

“WOW this is amazing,” said Bob Pratt, Executive Director of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. “I'm truly honored. I really consider this as a team award – the result of a team effort. We have a lot of community support through residents, businesses and organizations.”

“Without David Benjamin's guidance and coordination neither Nick Rymut nor I would have been at the beach that day,” Pratt added. “Without the partnership of Third Coast Surf Shop and all of our other partners the class might not have happened.”

The nomination for this award was based on the rip current rescue in New Buffalo August 28 and the GLSRP’s 2011 tracking of Great Lakes drowning statistics, six “Surfboard Rescue Techniques” classes, and rip current awareness campaign along the coast of Lake Michigan

Last year six surf rescue classes were taught to the general public, lifeguards, police officers, fire fighters, water rescue teams and dive team members. A member of the U.S. Coast Guard even attended the July 17 class in Frankfort, MI.

Pratt’s dedication for water safety will be on the forefront of drowning prevention throughout the Midwest in 2012.

Pratt retired from the East Lansing Fire Department January 20th where he spent 12 years as a firefighter and paramedic and 12 years as Fire Marshal. He will now take the helm of the Surf Rescue Project full time.

“I'm writing a new chapter in my life, a new career.  I'm really excited to see how much we can accomplish with the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project!”

THE SURF RESCUE

On August 28 approximately 30 minutes after teaching the “Surfboard Rescue Techniques” class in New Buffalo, MI, Bob and one of his class participants, Nick Rymut, rescued a boy drowning in a rip current. (Nick made the initial contact with the boy and Bob assisted – teaching all the way. There’s links to pictures of the New Buffalo rescue and surf rescue class, and TV news coverage of the Grand Haven class below.)

Nick, a firefighter and paramedic, for the Lockport Township Fire Department in Illinois was catching some surf after the class and immediately jumped into action when he saw the boy caught in the rip current.

The boy was displaying the signs of drowning in the thick surf – facing shore, mouth at water level, a terrified look in his face, and ‘climbing the ladder’ motion in the water.

Bob was standing on shore near a lifeguard stand speaking with a lifeguard and New Buffalo police officers when he saw the boy displaying the signs too. He then sprinted into the water to assist.

 

PICTURES of 2011 “Water Safety Surf Rescue” Classes

1. June 5, 2011 – St. Joseph, MI – Classroom and Water Session
2. August 7, 2011 – Grand Haven, MI – Classroom and Water Session
3. August 28, 2011 – New Buffalo, MI – Classroom and Water Session
4. August 28, 2011 – New Buffalo, MI – Boy rescued from rip current
5. September 18, 2011 – Whiting, IN – Classroom and Water Session 

VIDEO

August 8, 2011 – TV News Coverage– Surfers to the Rescue, Grand Haven, MI

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OTHER NEWS

1. Bob Pratt Winner of the Lifesaver of the Year Award
2. Fire Marshal Retires - Takes Helm of Surf Rescue Project
3. Bob Pratt Lifesaver Year Award - Top 10
4. Great Lakes drownings rise to 87 in 2011; a two-year total of 161
5. Great Lakes Representing in San Diego Symposium
6. About the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project
7. Dave’s Drowning Experience

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

1. The GLSRP’s Bob Pratt  wins 2011 “Lifesaver of the Year” Award
2. The GLSRP will be presenting its work at the National Drowning Prevention Alliance’s 11^th Annual Symposium in San Diego, March 7 – 10

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MORE INFORMATION about the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH – List of Businesses and Organizations

In the News – Overall Media Coverage