New water safety program launched in Holland

NonprofitHealth

Jun 6

Photo courtesy of West Michigan Water Safety Alliance

The West Michigan Water Safety Alliance (WMWSA) has launched its Beach Ambassadors program in Holland, aiming to enhance water safety and reduce drownings. The Holland initiative, inspired by a successful program in South Haven, is the next step in the organization’s ongoing efforts to promote safe practices on local beaches.

On June 1, a training session was held at Holland State Park for the new beach ambassadors, led by WMWSA Board Member Heather Johnson, who has been running the South Haven program since 2022. The session equipped 17 volunteers with essential skills and knowledge to serve as beach ambassadors at Holland State Park and Tunnel Park. The trained ambassadors will educate beachgoers about water safety and beach conditions.

Beach Ambassadors were trained on what to do in the event of an emergency, including throwing flotation devices and calling 911. They were also trained on proper water safety practices, like understanding water currents, the importance of life jackets, offshore winds, flag systems, and code ordinances.

In addition to the 17 volunteers in Holland, the WMWSA has trained 15 ambassadors in South Haven and two in St. Joseph for Silver Beach, Jean Klock Park, Tiscornia Park, and Rocky Gap Park. One ambassador has been trained in Grand Haven for Park Township beaches.

“The structural currents created along the piers are really dangerous and many don’t realize the dangers,” said Charles Elwood, Board Member, West Michigan Water Safety Alliance. “Michigan piers with lighthouses create a trap for currents and energy. Additionally, rocks along the piers create tunnels trapping victims.”

Jet skis will significantly improve emergency response times in Holland. With one jet ski stationed on the north side of Lake Macatawa and another on the south side, response times are expected to decrease to approximately five minutes, compared to over 20 minutes for Coast Guard helicopters and 10 minutes for boats according to Elwood.

“A drowning happens within two minutes and it can happen in as little as 30 seconds,” Johnson said.

The WMWSA Beach Ambassador program is a collaborative effort involving the Coast Guard, Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MI-DNR), Holland Rotary, Lakeshore United Rotaract Club, and the West Ottawa Interact Lakeshore United Rotaract Club, the program ensures the strategies implemented by WMWSA can be scaled throughout the Great Lakes region.

The West Ottawa's Interact Lakeshore United Rotaract Club has raised $1,500 to supply life jackets to Holland State Park and has applied for a $30,000 grant to support the beach ambassadors, water safety education in schools, and the purchase of a remote-controlled device to expedite rescue operations.

"With over 50 percent of drownings in the Great Lakes occurring in Lake Michigan and 80 percent of victims being males aged 18-25, the need for proactive water safety measures has never been more apparent," Elwood said.

To learn more about WMWSA, visit https://www.westmichiganwatersafetyalliance.com/.