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Deadly Weekend For Great Lakes Swimmers

Other episodes in this series: 
IPR News Features
Date: 
August 7, 2012
File image of Lake Michigan rip currents courtesy of NOAA and the United States Lifesaving Association.

By Bob Allen

It was a deadly weekend on the Great Lakes. Seven people drowned, including three in Lake Michigan.

Kevin Schlake, 40, of Cincinnati, died Sunday after swimming at Peterson Beach, toward the southern end of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Schlake was caught in a rip current. The family says he was trying to rescue a 12-year-old nephew. Schlake’s brother-in-law was able to make it to shore after a struggle in strong surf.

Also this weekend, a Chicago doctor drowned at St. Joseph beach while trying to rescue two children.

The City of Ludington closed its beach Sunday due to strong waves. A couple of people had to be helped from the surf at Ludington State Park.

Dave Benjamin tracks conditions for Great Lakes Surf Rescue. He calls it the most deadly weekend of the summer.

 “If you’re not a good swimmer, if you’re not a strong swimmer, really shouldn’t be in the water when the waves are in blown out condition, when the winds are on-shore,” he cautions.

Though drownings have been up this summer, so far there haven’t been many days with strong onshore winds that produce dangerous currents. But Benjamin says that could be about to change.

“August first is usually the start of rip current season on the Great Lakes because by August first the water temperatures are in the 80s and the prevailing winds start to shift to north to northwest,” he says.

Strong winds over warmer water hitting the shore at an angle produce both strong currents running along the shore and rip currents that pull swimmers away from the shore.

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See More: drown, Great lakes, rip current, swimming

Comments

Lifejackets

Submitted by Bob Pratt (not verified) on August 8, 2012 - 10:29pm.
Excellent comment! If people wore lifejackets the drowning problem would almost disappear! The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project does encourage lifejacket use, and hands on supervision, and rescue equipment on beaches and piers, and , and... unfortunately there is limited space and time to talk about the many facets of water safety and sometimes the message is lost or not covered in detail. As we travel the Great Lakes region we are amazed at how quickly conditions can change and how unprepared most people are. This morning I was in Holland for a water safety event and after the class I took my stand-up paddleboard out for some exercise. In less than an hour conditions went from 'green flag' to 'red flag'. I wear both a leash and a lifejacket unless I'm on a river (no leash) or surfing (no lifejacket). There were hundreds of swimmers in the water and the free loaner lifejackets *AVAILABLE AT ALL STATE PARKS* were hanging unused. Parents sat on the beach as children swim out to the buoys seemingly oblivious to the possibility of a rip current taking them beyond their ability. From shore it would be very difficult to effect a rescue in this scenario. As you state; a lifejacket could easily prevent a tragedy. If more parents and grandparents were as proactive as you, there might not be a need for the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. We would love to be put out of business!! Bob Bob Pratt Director of Education Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project

Life jackets and rip tides in Lake Michigan

Submitted by Pumpkinhead (not verified) on August 7, 2012 - 9:07pm.
I have tried to educate myself concerning the conditions and events that can lead to rip tides since we bought a cottage 5 years ago in Union Pier near Lake Michigan. I am constantly shocked of how often people drown (young , old , good swimmers and bad, and in shallow water included )in this lake. I love and respect this lake and I am thrilled my family gets to grow up near such a beautiful body of water but it is a force that takes many lives if people do not prepare themselves for those certain days and conditions. I can now predict when the rough water and conditions are right for people to get into trouble and I have purchased 5 life jackets ( water ski type) for my children, ourselves and guests. There are just days that I enforce life jackets only or... no water. I cannot negotiate with teenagers or anyone else on this matter. I never understand why most of the articles don't suggest that everyone wears a life jacket in these conditions? If people can relax and go "with the flow" the jackets help them from exhausting themselves and make it easier to find by rescue or simply swimming bak in when the force decreases. Is there a specific reason life jackets are not more recommended and why don't signs at the beach say... life jacket day for all who want to enjoy the lake.

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