00:00Beyond the east and west coast you can also surf on the Great Lakes. The five interconnected lakes
00:05stretch across eight states from New York to Minnesota and strong winds can create lake waves
00:11big enough for surfing. The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project is a non-profit dedicated to
00:18water safety everywhere. Dan Benjamin is co-founder and executive director of the Great Lakes
00:23Surf Rescue Project. Thanks for joining us here today. Absolutely thanks for having me today.
00:31Yep and the Great Lakes are called the third coast. So how is surfing possible on these huge
00:36but landlocked lakes and beaches? You said you're going out surfing later. Yes so the simplicity of
00:42it is wind across water. These big bodies of water can create waves and then these waves can create
00:49several types of dangerous currents. So yes we are we are blessed here that's wetsuit technology,
00:55surfing technology, and you know businesses like Third Coast Surf Shop has come to the uh
01:00you know midwest to supply us with all the gear we need to get in the water.
01:06Now you started the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project after your own experience when you nearly drowned.
01:12What happened? Well at the time I was 40 years old. I had 40 years of swimming scuba certified
01:19swimming in the ocean. Long story short is I had never been in trouble in the water. I had a bad
01:25wipeout. The leash didn't hold. It was in the winter time. I inhaled a little bit of water and I got
01:30pushed to the bottom and I immediately panicked and when you're in the moment of panic all of your
01:36experience is out the window. It doesn't matter because you're in the moment of panic.
01:40Luckily I had a winter wetsuit on that provided some flotation. I was able to get to the surface
01:46and you know float with the ability of the wetsuit and then make it back to shore eventually.
01:53David you said you immediately panicked. That's where the flip float follow comes from. It's a lot
01:57like stop drop and roll. Can you guys explain you know what people really realistically will
02:03do if they are caught in a rip current? In an emergency situation people have the natural
02:08tendency to panic first. So if you were ever struggling in water over your head what we
02:14advocate is that you flip float and follow. So you flip over on your back and you float.
02:19Float to keep your head above water. Stay calm. Conserve your energy and then follow a safe path
02:24out of the water. So you have to float first. Exit strategy second if you want to survive.
02:30And your group teaches water safety. What is the most important to remember to not drown if you
02:36find yourself struggling in the water? Again it's not common sense to know that panic is the
02:43first stage of drowning and if you don't have a lot of experience with dealing with panic attacks
02:47which most people probably do not. Again it's your instinct is to fight to survive. You're going to
02:53exhaust all your energy very quickly. That's why you should again flip over your back and float.
02:58Get your chest to the water. Get your arms out. Your feet with a little flutter kick.
03:02Just get your head high in a position where you can breathe. Inflate those lungs. You become more
03:07buoyant and then follow a safe path out of the water.
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