People in the Great Lakes area are already beginning to emerge from their homes, a bit stir crazy and hungover from quarantinis, wanting to head to their favorite beautiful Great Lakes beach or park.
We want them to SAFELY ENJOY themselves when they get there. No one thinks drowning will happen to them or someone they love, until it does.
Grab your lunch and join us for this valuable series of educational Water Safety Jam Sessions – think of them as fast-paced town halls or “fishbowls” packed with expert info, thoughtful interaction, and some surprises.
Missed a previous Jam Session or want to experience it again? Here's our YouTube Playlist featuring our many water safety rock stars. Please share.
People are already heading to the lakes as the weather and water warm up, even during an ongoing pandemic. What steps should be taken as beaches and parks reopen? How do social distancing and sanitizing integrate with water safety fundamentals like loaner lifejackets and rescue stations? Join this first Water Safety Jam Session for a lively discussion on ways to maximize safety in the time of COVID-19.
Panelists: Laura Rowen, Adam Bueling, Mark Breederland, and Dan Metcalfe
Date: Thursday, May 28, 12 noon ET
Merely informing people of the dangers of the water and best practices for staying safe often isn't enough. How can we persuade them, even a little bit, toward safer behavior? This Jam Session explores words, phrases, and warnings that might work better than others, based on research and first hand experience. Join us to learn from others and share what has and hasn't worked in your experience.
Panelists: Susan Och, Jamie Racklyeft
Original Zoom Date: Wednesday, June 3, 12:30 p.m. ET
The pandemic isn't the only thing unusual about 2020. Scientists are forecasting another year of record high water levels on the Great Lakes. In 2019, drownings were down nearly 20% despite high water levels, which usually equate to more drownings. What has changed this year? Join us as we explore theories and how to adapt our strategies to bring numbers down again.
Panelists: Matt Warner, Mark Breederland, Jason Wintermute, and Dan Metcalfe
Original Zoom Date: Wednesday, June 10, 12:30 p.m. ET
Native American tribes have known the dangers of rip currents for centuries, yet modern science has only recently proven their existence in the Great Lakes. There are research teams dedicated to learning about dangerous waves, currents, and conditions in the Great Lakes. This Jam Session explores the latest wave and current science and how it may be used to inform better forecasting models and warnings to the public. Join us for some fascinating discoveries, including the conditions at Holland State Park at the time of the recent drowning tragedies.
Panelists: Guy Meadows and Bob Dukesherer
Original Zoom Date: Wednesday, June 17, 12:30 p.m. ET
Even one drowning is too many, but we average nearly 100 per year in the Great Lakes. Despite great effort, some communities have suffered consecutive drownings and some areas see several. What can we learn from small communities and large cities and their efforts to keep more from happening? What should be included in a "rapid response playbook"? Join in on this discussion of tragedy and hope.
Panelists: Liz Reimink and Halle Quezada Rasmussen
Original Zoom Date: Wednesday, June 24, 12:30 ET
Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in kids 1-4, and second in kids under 15. No one thinks it will happen to them, and we are here to help make sure it doesn't. What resources are available to parents and teachers to educate kids about water safety? Putting on a lifejacket near the water should be as routine as putting on a seat belt in a car. Join us to talk about ways to create a safer culture for kids around water and save more lives, just in time for the 4th of July holiday weekend.
Panelists: Harve Norris, Becky Epstein, and Drew Ferguson.
Original Zoom Date: July 1, 12:30 p.m. ET
Lifeguards save lives and are the best investment a city can make to help keep people safe at their beaches. Yet far too many shoreline community leaders use liability and cost as excuses for not putting public safety first for their residents and visitors. We see lifeguard stations every 500 feet on many ocean beaches, yet most Great Lakes beaches rely on untrained bystanders to save people, often becoming victims themselves. What are the myths of liability? What are some profitable lifeguard program models? What is involved in setting up a successful program?
Panelists: Scott Ruddle, Cheryl Podtburg, and Tim Jaskiewicz
Original Zoom Date: Wednesday, July 8, 12:30 ET
With high water levels and eroding beaches, more people may be buying, borrowing, and renting boats and other watercraft. Heading out into a lake or river is easy, but what precautions should you take to ensure you and your friends and family return safely? Drownings occur near shore and in open water for a variety of reasons most don't expect. Learn from water safety & drowning prevention experts, including first responders and US Coast Guard. Join us for this enlightening Jam Session for boaters, paddlers, sailors, and other water enthusiasts.
Panelists: Commander Matthew Walter & First Class Cadet Grace Tarbrake (USCG), Dan Metcalfe, and Captain Drew Ferguson
Original Zoom Date: Wednesday, July 15, 12:30 ET
Thanks to our generous sponsors these Jam Sessions are free, but you need to register to join.
Interested in having your organization highlighted during the Jams and afterward on YouTube and social media? Contact the organizer about sponsoring us.
