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
--Know the dangers of Offshore Winds
--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
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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
9. Wed. 04/11 Willie Edward Hurse 33-M Beverly Shores, IN
10. Sun. 04/22 David Dickerson 43-M Grand Traverse Bay Canoe
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
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
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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