The Michigan Department of Health and Humane Services is hoping the state’s residents have a safe summer on the Great Lakes. It tells us more than ten people die each year because of dangerous currents in the lakes. Those currents develop when winds blow toward the shore, and waves are three feet or higher. The health department also notes the eastern shore of Lake Michigan has the most current-related incidents of any part of the Great Lakes. 71% of such emergencies happen in Lake Michigan. Everyone’s advised to not swim alone, watch out for others, pay attention to water that’s discolored and choppy, foamy, or filled with debris, and to not swim near a structure like a pier. If you find yourself in a rip current, flip on your back, float to conserve energy, and follow the safest path out of the water. It could be along the line of the current until it’s less strong. You can find out more at the CDC’s website.
