7 tips to keep you safe on the Great Lakes this summer
CBC
With summer here and school out, families across southwestern Ontario are flocking to Lake Huron and Lake Erie. But with the beauty of the Great Lakes comes real danger, especially for inexperienced swimmers or those unfamiliar with lake conditions.
Scott Ruddle, a Great Lakes water safety expert, joined CBC London Morning to share seven top tips people need to know before they wade in.
Despite the name, the Great Lakes are vast, deep and unpredictable.
"They have surf-like conditions just like the ocean, sometimes even worse," said Ruddle. "But people hear the word 'lake' and assume it's calm and safe."
Adding to the danger, freshwater lacks the buoyancy of saltwater in the oceans, meaning even strong swimmers float lower. That makes it easier to swallow water, panic and struggle to stay afloat.
When the waves are up, so is the risk.
According to Ruddle, waves even one metre high are enough to create dangerous currents beneath the surface, especially rip currents. These narrow, fast-moving channels of water can pull swimmers far from shore. Rip currents can also appear deceptively calm in smoother patches of water with sand or debris moving away from land.
"That calm-looking area might actually be the most dangerous part of the lake," Ruddle warns.
Panic is the biggest threat when someone gets pulled out to deep water.
"If you start to feel in distress, flip over onto your back and float," said Ruddle.
This keeps your face above water and buys time to collect your thoughts.
"Take a deep breath, calm yourself, and then follow a path to safety."
That might mean swimming parallel to shore to escape a rip current or signalling someone for help. "Flip, float and follow, that sequence saves lives."
LISTEN | Great Lakes water expert Scott Ruddle talks about safety at the beach:
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