Hey guys.
Coming to West Michigan for Labor Day Weekend? Maybe going to [cue the echoing voice] THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN THE WORLD, Sleeping Bear Dunes? Maybe chilling at Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon?
Anywhere along the West Michgian lakeshore?
Ahhh...perfect. Relaxing. Excellent beaches, nice food, huge dunes, woodlands and nature
Welcome. Just one thing. Don't drown. Okay? When you swim in the beautiful waters of Lake Michigan, DO NOT DROWN.
Got that?
Don't drown.
I've had it just about up to here with visitors coming to our beatuiful lakeshore and getting killed because of perhaps some bad luck, but also because perhaps they didn't have quite the right level of respect for the Great Lakes.
We lost another one today in Lake Michigan on one of my favorite beach spots just a couple miles from my home. That's horrible. This year has been a huge year for drownings and most of them have been out of state or inland visitors to our beautiful lakeshores. It's fantastic people are finally starting to discover the beauty of the region. Just...for crying out loud. Respect the Laket this weekend, and don't drown.
If there's a red flag...don't swim. If there's a yellow flag...swim with caution. Watch for boats if you swim out far. And...remember...the deeper you get, the colder the water and the more likely it is to be so cold that your muscles cramp or freeze up.
If you're caught in a rip current, DO NOT swim against it. And don't panic. Swim out of it, parallel to the shoreline.
And as Blue Aardvark reminds us DON'T SWIM ALONE!
Please be safe and have fun!