Summer drownings renew calls for water safety legislation

(Detroit Free Press) Drownings in Michigan this summer have once again put a spotlight on water safety in a state with the nation's longest freshwater coastline and an abundance of inland lakes.

In metro Detroit's Oakland County, home to a large number of beaches, an increase in drownings compared with last year has left a tragic mark on the summer.

County officials have reported 11 drownings this year, compared with four in 2023, according to a news release from state Rep. Donni Steele, R-Orion Township, who lives on one of the county's many lakes.

As many plan to hit the beaches for the long Labor Day weekend to celebrate the final days of summer, water safety advocates are reminding Michiganders to keep an eye on the water while lawmakers hear renewed calls to advance legislation to require water safety instruction in schools. .................(more)

https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2024/08/31/michigan-bill-would-require-water-safety-lessons/75012609007/