Great Lakes Group Offers Tips for Safely Enjoying Labor Day Weekend at the Lake
‘Safely Enjoy the Great Lakes Week’ Seeks to Avoid Additional Drowning Tragedies
GREAT LAKES, USA — After a delayed start to the summer beach season due to the pandemic, people are rushing to safely enjoy the warm weather and water temperatures before fall cools everything off.
“Those conditions can hide the dangers and result in more drownings if people go in without proper precautions,” says Jamie Racklyeft, Executive Director of the Great Lakes Water Safety Consortium. “Hotels around the Great Lakes area are selling out for Labor Day weekend with people wanting to enjoy our beautiful lakes one last time with family and friends. We want to help make sure they all return safely.”
This nonprofit Great Lakes water safety community has declared the week around Labor Day, ‘Safely Enjoy the Great Lakes Week’ and offers these tips for late-season vacationers:
Wear a lifejacket. Just like you wear your seatbelt on the way to the water, wear your lifejacket once you get there. Flotation is key.
Know before you go. Check the weather forecast for any warnings at your beach.
Stay dry when waves are high. White water and waves can create rip currents in the big lakes. Enjoy the sand instead of going out.
Steer clear of the pier. Record high water levels and waves are washing people off breakwaters at alarming rates.
Swim near a watchful adult. Lifeguards are best, but others with flotation should watch kids and be ready to help.
Flip, float & follow. If drowning, flip onto your back and float to control panic and conserve energy, then follow the safest path back to shore.
Bonus Tip: Leave inflatables at home. Again this year we have seen people on giant unicorns and other inflatables get blown out into the lake by offshore winds and either drowning or having to be rescued. If your inflatable gets away, let it go. If you are caught on an inflatable moving away from shore, signal for help and hold on.
For more water safety information and resources, visit GreatLakesWaterSafety.org
ABOUT THE GREAT LAKES WATER SAFETY CONSORTIUM
The GLWSC is a nonprofit community of best practice, bringing together hundreds of water safety experts and advocates with a mission of helping people SAFELY enjoy the Great Lakes, and an ultimate vision of ENDING drowning.
We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Tax ID# 81-2812105.
Media and other inquiries to GLWSC Executive Director Jamie Racklyeft: jracklye@glwsc.org
734.358.8982 | P.O. Box 130861 Ann Arbor, MI 48113
LEARN MORE at http://greatlakeswatersafety.org/
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