This research was collected by Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, which has kept track of all drownings in the lakes since 2010. The group has noted 64 Great Lakes drownings in total this year.
While it makes sense to want to cool down this summer by hanging out by the lake or jumping in a pool, the reality is that many people don’t know how to swim, or swim well. On top of that, 70 percent of all deaths that in the United States occur because of alcohol usage, according to the Centers For Disease Control and prevention. Meaning that while about 4,000 people drown in the U.S. each year, many of these deaths are preventable.
Sign up for swim lessons in Northeast Ohio right here. And, of course, before jumping into Lake Erie, do check safety advisories here.
This article appears in Aug 15-21, 2018.