Don't mess with Lake Erie

The Great Lakes provide wonderful places to swim on hot days during spring through fall. Scientists hope Lake Erie will have a small algal bloom this year and will mostly show off the lake's natural beauty. Provided photo/JOEY CASSEL OF NEW DEPARTURE FILMS But those same bodies of water also can prove deadly for swimmers. A grim reminder of that reality was provided recently by the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. The nonprofit organization recently announced that more drownings have been reported in the Great Lakes so far in 2021 than by this time last year, prompting group leaders to urge swimmers to practice water safety measures. As of July 2, there were 32 drownings in the Great Lakes, compared with 25 as of July 4, 2020, according to data collected by the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. The organization tracks drownings in the Great Lakes. Of the 2021 drownings, 15 occurred in Lake Michigan, compared with 12 a year ago. Five drownings were reported in Lake Huron this season, in addition to six in Lake Erie and six in Lake Ontario. There were 108 drownings on the Great Lakes in 2020, up from the 97 recorded in 2019. There have been a total of 978 Great Lakes drownings since 2010. To help prevent drowning, experts recommend making sure someone is designated to watch children at all times while swimming and ensure they wear life jackets. Older children and adults are also encouraged not to swim alone. All water-goers should avoid mixing drugs or alcohol with swimming. These are all good pieces of advice to follow, so an outing at any of the Great Lakes doesn't turn tragic because of a drowning.