FRANKFORT -- The National Weather Service has issued a moderate to high risk for rip currents in the Great Lakes until Wednesday. The U.S. Coast Guard says learning how to recognize a rip current and how to get out of one may save your life.
According to the National Weather Service 68 people had to be rescued from rip currents in the Great Lakes last year, of those 60 were in Lake Michigan. Rip currents also caused 14 deaths, 10 in Lake Michigan.
Senior Chief Mike Beatty with USCG Station Frankfort says, "If you do get caught in a rip current you are going to want to swim parallel to the shore. Don't fight it."
Tom McArthur, a rescue swimmer with USCG Air Station Traverse City says, "If you get too tired and can't swim parallel just relax and float. It's not going to push you more than 50 to 100 yards out, and then it will disperse."
McArthur rescued 12 people, including a family of four from a rip current while off duty in 2010.
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