How to Stay Safe in the Great Lakes This Season
The Great Lakes are no joke. In fact, Michigan has some of the deadliest lakes in America. Both Lake Michigan and Lake Eerie are very dangerous. While both are dangerous, Lake Erie is uniquely dangerous is because it is the shallowest of the Great Lakes, so it can warm and cool faster than other lakes. That can cause dangerous waters and also a major annual algae bloom in the middle of the lake. So, you obviously have to stay safe when you’re swimming in one of the Great Lakes. Here are some tips on how to stay safe in the Great Lakes this season.
How to Stay Safe in the Great Lakes
Earlier this week, a 22-year-old Mackinac Island woman sadly died after she fell off her paddleboard into Lake Huron on the north side of the island. Now, the Mackinac Island Recreation Department and Mackinac Marine Rescue have released an announcement about water safety around Mackinac Island. Island officials want residents and vacationers to know that the Great Lakes can be very dangerous, and you should always wear a life jacket. “The Great Lakes have cold water that can make it hard to swim, even for strong swimmers,” they said in a joint statement. “There are hidden hazards around the island. Dangerous currents and water conditions can be difficult to identify. Most drowning incidents happen when people are not wearing life jackets.” They add that hypothermia can happen very suddenly and “faster than you would expect on a warm day.”
Finally, the Mackinac Island Recreation Department and Mackinac Marine Rescue warn that surface water temperatures are very cold. Surface water temperatures around the island go from the high 30s in early May to the high 60s in late August. However, deeper water in the Straits of Mackinac hovers around 45 degrees during any season. “Given these averages, on a calm, sunny, non-windy day you would expect to be in the water for 10-15 minutes before you start to lose some of your mobility. Add wind, waves and cooler air temperatures your time drops quickly.”
My Michigan Beach also has some simple tips to stay safe in the water this year. They say to, “Never swim alone; swim with lifeguards and/or water watchers present. Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket appropriate for your weight and size and the water activity. Always wear a life jacket while boating, regardless of swimming skill.” Of course, always swim sober, too. I hope these tips help keep you safe this season. I’ll definitely be following them.
Most Common Summer Illnesses and How to Avoid Them
1. Lyme Disease
Lyme Disease is a big one in the summer. Lyme disease is transmitted through tick bites, which are often living in areas with tall grass or the woods. Some common symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache and a bullseye rash. To help avoid getting tick bites, try to avoid areas with tall grass and wooded areas; wear long sleeves and pants outside; use insect repellent; and look for ticks on your skin and remove them if you find them.
Food Poisoning
Food poisoning is super prevalent in the summer. Just think about it. If you go to a picnic, chances are, that potato salad is going to be left out in the sun a long time. So, beware what you eat at outdoor events. Also, be clean with how you handle food, cook food thoroughly, wash your hands when handling food and don’t have perishable foods unrefrigerated for too long.
Dehydration
Dehydration can really be serous. It sounds like no big deal, but severe dehydration can actually lead to death. Don’t freak out too much, though. Severe dehydration usually happens if you are vomiting or have diarrhea for an extended time. In the summer months, however, being outside in the hot sun for too long and not drinking enough can lead to dehydration. Drink plenty of water. If you’re working out, sports drinks are a good choice, too.
Colds
You don’t just get a cold when it’s cold out. “Some viruses and other bacteria thrive under the extreme heat of the sun, thus increasing your risk of infection,” notes unilab.com.ph. To avoid spreading it, “Always cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze and dispose your tissues in the right receptacle.”
Flu
The flu often ticks up in the winter, but it’s around in the summer, too. Often times, if people are traveling and in close areas, the flu virus can spread. To avoid it, the CDC suggests to get vaccinated, practice good hand hygiene and avoid close contact with sick people.
Getty Images / Paul-Bradbury
Enterovirus
Enterovirus is commonly called the “summer flu.” It can cause fever, coughing, runny nose and nausea. It can also cause a rash, like with hand-foot-and-mouth disease. To prevent it, as always, good hygiene is key.
Getty Images / Dr_Microbe
More tips to avoid getting sick
“Frequent hand washing and avoiding exposure to people who are sick with fever can help prevent the spread of infection,” Dr. Michael Pichichero, a pediatrician and infectious disease researcher at the Rochester General Hospital Research Institute in New York, tells Newsinhealth.nih.gov. Dr. Pichichero adds that the best way to avoid getting sick is to block viral transmission. You can get sick by coming into direct contact with an infected person’s respiratory secretions, such as saliva or mucus, so the frequent hand washing really helps. Also, protect yourself from the sun and beware of picnics where food that’s left out in the sun can go bad.
