A Guide to Safe Swimming in Lake Michigan
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A Guide to Safe Swimming in Lake Michigan

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Lake Michigan – A beautiful lake, but it can be deadly dangerous.

As of June 19, 28 drownings have been reported on the Great Lakes this year.

Ten of them occurred in Lake Michigan.

Dave Benjamin, co-founder and co-executive director of the Greater Lakes Surf Rescue Project, said the “fundamental dynamics” of the lake make it the most dangerous lake among the Great Lakes in terms of drownings.

“There’s a high population density along the coastline,” Benjamin said, “and it’s a tourist destination. … It’s 300 miles long from north to south and 118 miles wide from east to west, and the wind over the water creates dangerous currents. So the winds create dangerous currents.”

Current statistics could be even higher, Benjamin said, due to under-reported, misreported and unreported drownings.

The dangerous currents in the Great Lakes are caused by winds and are often difficult to see. Reverse current channels open and close, creating what are called flash rips.

Where to go: Our guide to 12 Lake Michigan beaches: swimming, accessibility, and extra adventures.

The Surf Rescue Project categorizes wind direction in three ways: onshore, sideshore, and offshore. Wind directions also often combine on the Great Lakes, which can lead to dangerous conditions.

With these statistics in mind, The Tribune has created a list of dos and don’ts while swimming in the lake.

Do: Wear a life jacket

If you wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket, you have a 99 percent chance of survival, Benjamin said. It’s also important to wear a properly fitted life jacket because if the size is incorrect, it can become a drowning hazard, especially if the life jacket is too large.

Don’t: Use buoyancy devices

Float devices, such as rafts or inflatables, are not allowed on beaches where lifeguards are present. The wind can change while a float is in use, which can cause people to be farther away than they expected. In addition, inflatables, such as arm floats or arm floats, can deflate, slip, restrict arm movement and give a false sense of security to children and their caregivers, according to the American Pool website.

Do: Watch out for small children

While a 2-foot wave is not dangerous for adults, it can be dangerous for children. If a child is knocked over by a 2-foot wave, they may not be able to get up for the entire cycle, and waves break every three seconds.

Don’t: Get out if there is a shallow water

Although the shallows fill up quickly, waves breaking on the shallows are a sign that a countercurrent is forming.

“Rivers are created when waves break on a sandbar near the shoreline, collecting water between the breaking waves and the beach,” reads a post about the currents on the Michigan State University website.

Do: Pay attention to the flags placed

State parks that don’t have lifeguards use a flag system to indicate safe swimming conditions. Benjamin explained what each colored flag means in terms of water levels and overall safety. A green flag indicates calm conditions and waves between zero and two feet high. A yellow flag indicates a medium hazard with waves between two and four feet high. Dangerous rip currents are also starting to form. A red flag indicates high hazard waves, four feet or higher, and that dangerous rip currents are definitely present. Paying attention to the flags is important enough, but some beaches also issue fines ranging from $500 to $1,000 for ignoring a flag.

Don’t: Eat right before swimming

If you think you’re at risk for rip currents, don’t eat a large meal before your swim. For recreational swimmers, the risk of cramping after eating is very low, according to NBC News. If you plan to swim more than 100 meters, it’s not recommended to eat a large meal beforehand, as it can lead to cramps and even vomiting.

Do: Turn, float and follow

If you find yourself in a backwater, Benjamin recommends using the Flip, Float, and Follow method. If you find yourself in a backwater, start by rolling onto your back and floating with your mouth above the water. This strategy gives the stranded person a few moments to calm down, signal for help, or plan an exit strategy. Benjamin explained that sometimes when people get caught in a backwater, they start to panic and use up all their energy trying to get out of the water. In other words, don’t fight the current, but rather go with it.

Don’t rely on a weather app to predict all conditions

The National Weather Service’s alerts may not apply to your day at the beach, as the weather service often issues general advisories. Benjamin emphasized the importance of paying attention to local conditions and that if lifeguards are present, they should be asked for more information.

Do: Take a buddy with you

If you swim with a buddy, you increase the likelihood that someone will be nearby who will know if you’re being swept away, which can reduce the likelihood of panic. It can also make it easier to call a lifeguard for help or, at beaches where lifeguards are on duty, have a life preserver you can grab onto.

Don’t: Swim near the pier

Piers almost always have a structural current that can lead to very strong currents, especially when combined with other currents. These can cause swimmers to swim into an area without a clear path to safety, according to Michigan State.

Do: Drink plenty of water. Don’t: Get in the water under the influence of alcohol.

Entering water under the influence of alcohol can delay your reaction and increase your risk of drowning.

“Spending time in the hot sun can increase the effects of these substances on your judgment,” Henry Ford College said in an article titled “How to Safely Enjoy the Great Lakes.”

Henry Ford College also recommends beachgoers hydrate with water and electrolyte drinks instead of alcohol.

play

Video: New EMILY Remote-Controlled Rescue Device in Action

Watch a demonstration of the remote-controlled rescue device called EMILY as Silver Beach County Park Chief Lifeguard Mia Wurster explains how to use it and the benefits of the new device.

Who is a swimmer?

Eighty-five percent of Americans would describe themselves as good swimmers, but when tested, only 56 percent could perform the five basic skills that could save them in the water. The most difficult skill on the test was swimming 25 yards. Benjamin said the minimum definition of a swimmer should be someone who can swim 100 yards without stopping.

“People often say, ‘I can swim, my kids can swim,’ and then they believe they don’t have to worry about drowning,” Benjamin said. “But that’s just not the case.”

The undertow versus the tide

The terms tide and current should not be used interchangeably.

“A tidal current is a special type of current associated with the rapid movement of tidal water through bays and the mouths of estuaries, bays, and harbors,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration wrote in a post about currents.

Ripple currents typically pull people away from shore, but they do not pull them underwater as reverse currents do.

“A rip current is a type of current that can occur near breaking beaches,” Henry Ford College wrote in an article. “It is a strong, localized, narrow current of water that moves directly from the shore, cutting across the lines of breaking waves like a river flowing out to sea.”

What are the signs of a reverse current?

If there are breaking waves on the shore, dangerous currents are already there. While it is important to pay attention to any changes in the water, do not rely on your eyesight to keep you safe because if you are drifting into a rip current, you will not see it, according to Henry Ford College.

Email Tribune reporter Rose Androwich at [email protected].

Website https://www.grupexit.cat

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