Lakeside Rescue Tactics: What is Water Safety “Stop, Drop and Roll”?

Dina Bair and Katharin Czink

1 hour ago

CHICAGO — We all know the stop-and-stall and roll techniques when it comes to fire safety. Today, water safety experts want to teach you three more life-saving tactics.

The beauty of Lake Michigan is evident, but its danger is murky.

Dr. Michelle Macy is an emergency room physician at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

“When we think about the beaches along our Chicago shoreline and up the North Shore, we have a lot of different jetties and breakwater walls that stick out,” she said.

These structures, combined with wind, can create currents that carry swimmers out of the water unexpectedly.

“When the winds are out of the east, the waves can be very strong and change the currents. But when the winds are out of the west, people can get into trouble,” she said. “When they’re on a float, a raft or a boat, they can get blown away from shore and end up in a place where they can’t get back to safety.”

A warning system is in place along the shoreline. Flags indicate the conditions. Green means “go ahead” – the beach is patrolled and the water is safe. Yellow means “proceed with caution.” And red means “stay on shore and out of the water.”

“Either there are no lifeguards available when we have red flags or the water conditions are too dangerous to rely on individual skills to stay safe,” Macy said. “These lifeguards are listening to the weather, they’re listening to changing circumstances and so if they put out a yellow or red call, people need to respect that and heed that, that’s the safest course of action.”

Even the most experienced swimmer, perhaps tempted by the lure of big waves, cannot resist nature. It only takes a few minutes to drown.

“Even the strongest swimmers, Olympic-level athletes, if they get swept away by a current or a wave goes over their head while they’re breathing, they’re not going to be able to recover,” Macy said.

Macy explains the dangers if you get caught in a dangerous current.

“You can lose the sensation of swimming. You can get hit by a wave that puts water in your mouth and makes you cough and spit,” she explained. “You can also have a feeling of panic when you’re pulled out of the water.”

The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project recommends a survival strategy. Think about roll over, float, and follow. It’s essential to roll over onto your back and keep your head above water; it helps you conserve energy and stay calm. In some cases, you can float or swim with the current to a safer location that brings you closer to land. Or, you may need to float until help arrives. And if you see a swimmer in distress, don’t go there. Call a lifeguard or 911.

“There are lifebuoys all along the shoreline now, so throw a lifebuoy, throw something else that floats, or reach out to that person, but don’t put yourself in harm’s way,” Macy said. “I can’t stress this enough. We don’t want to see people in a situation where they have to be recused or in a situation where they haven’t been found and now we’re in a recovery situation.”

Life jackets are an essential safety tool for boating, but Macy says they aren’t used as regularly as they should be. Children ages 1 to 4 drown in pools. Parents need to be extra vigilant around any body of water.