We all know there are no sharks in Lake Michigan .
This summer , shark signs will be posted at our non-swimming beaches as a reminder that a lifeguard is not present , and swimming is prohibited .
Because swimming off a Lake Michigan beach without a lifeguard on duty can be as dangerous as swimming in shark-infested waters .
THE DANGERS OF THE LAKE
According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project ( GLSRP ), Lake Michigan ranks as the deadliest Great Lake where dangerous shoreline currents and strong waves are common . Lake Michigan is 307 miles long and 118 miles at its widest point . When northerly winds travel the length of Lake Michigan , it has a lot of “ fetch ” to create dangerous currents and high waves . In its simplest term , lake fetch is the maximum length of open water wind can travel . Waves form by the wind . The longer wind blows over a long expanse of water , the more energy builds up , creating bigger , high-energy waves , and those waves create dangerous currents .
The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project tracks all drownings that happen on the Great Lakes . Since 2010 , the GLSRP has tracked over 950 Great Lakes drownings . More than ½ of these drownings happened on Lake Michigan , and ½ of those drownings occurred in this southern tip of the lake ( Milwaukee to Chicago to Northwest Indiana to South-west Michigan ).
SIGNS OF DROWNING
Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death in the U . S . and the world . According to the Center for Disease Control , drowning is the # 1 cause of accidental death in children 1-4 , and # 2 in children under 15 . Most people who drown are good swimmers . Unlike in movies , drowning happens quickly and often quietly . Drowning victims are often silently trying to stay above water , facing the shore and making motions as if they are climbing a ladder . Their body will be in a vertical position in the water , head back , and mouth at water level .
The Timeline of Drowning Survivability : > 1 minute - If a person is actively drowning , they will likely submerge in less than 60 seconds . 2 Minutes – A submerged drowning victim has a 94 % survival rate if recovered , and CPR and artificial respiration is performed correctly . 3 Minutes – The heart may stop . 4 Minutes – Irreversible brain damage begins . 10 Minutes – Around ten minutes of submersion , a drowning victim only has a 14 % survival rate if recovered , and CPR and artificial respiration is performed correctly . ( These survivors will usually have moderate to severe brain injury .)
LIFEGUARDS SAVE LIVES ! The best way to stay safe at the beach is only to swim when a lifeguard is on duty . Lifeguards are the gold standard for beach safety . They are right there , trained , and ready to respond when minutes count .
BE SMART !
Only swim at a beach with a lifeguard on duty . Rosewood Beach , located at 883 Sheridan Road , is our designated swimming beach and lifeguards are on duty every day from 10am-6pm from Memorial Day weekend thru Labor Day weekend .
Summer 2021 • Park District of Highland Park 17