We have the Atlantic along the East Coast and the Pacific along the West Coast. The Great Lakes region of the US is considered the "Third Coast," and high winds enable the waters to be surfed.
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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.