Order Your Water Safety/Rescue Equipment Now 
Consortium-Approved Equipment List Now Available

Are you ready to invest in rescue equipment for your beach but aren't sure what to order? We have the answers.

Focusing on rescue equipment for unguarded beaches, the Great Lakes Water Safety Consortium (GLWSC) encourages local authorities across the Great Lakes to make their beaches and waterfronts safer by providing our newly-recommended water safety equipment. 

When in doubt, go for our #1 recommendation: Life rings. Still have some money to spend? Get some loaner lifejackets, rescue boards & tubes, whistles, and/or throw bags. Have some serious money? Order an EMILY robotic rescue drone. 

Read more in the report, including challenges and myths, and why investing in rescue equipment – and lifeguards – can dramatically reduce the chances of Great Lakes drownings along your shoreline. Special thanks to Susan Och, Matt Warner, Jesse Schomberg, Ron Kinnunen, and the rest of the Beach Warnings & Rescue Equipment Action Committee. 

Please order and share our rescue equipment recommendations here.

The Great Lakes Water Safety Consortium (GLWSC) has grown significantly over the past year and added to our list of accomplishments. We are still young, but together we have limitless potential to be a force for good.

As a Community of BEST Practice, we now have more than 430 members representing dozens of organizations serving our mission to END drowning in the Great Lakes. Thank you for being a vital part of this vibrant organization.

Highlights by Year

2018: Approved Lifeguarding Best Practices; Water Safety Training Essentials; and Rescue Equipment Recommendations; held Conferences in Evanston, IL and Cleveland, OH; awarded first-ever Wayne & Toni Brown Water Safety Lifetime Achievement Award to Ron Kinnunen; communicated water safety messages in more than 100,000 media impressions. 

2017: Approved universal beach warning signage; held Conference in Sheboygan, WI. 

2016: Designed Stay Safe/Don't Drown/Here's How brochures with our lifesaving water safety messages; held Conferences in Cleveland, OH and Grand Haven, MI. 

2015: Held Conference in Michigan City, IN and Gaylord, MI; became an official 501c3 nonprofit corporation.

In January we are making big plans for 2019 and beyond as we take the Consortium to the next level in pursuit of our mission to END drowning in the Great Lakes.

Join us for either or both of our Virtual Strategic Planning sessions on Friday, Jan. 11 from 12-1p.m. ET & Wednesday, Jan 23 from 11-12 p.m. ET. 
Join the call: https://www.uberconference.com/jracklye
Optional toll-free dial in number: 888-455-9952. No PIN needed.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate in shaping the future of water safety in the Great Lakes.

The U-M Injury Prevention Center is one of ten CDC-funded Injury Control Research Centers nationally, that address urgent injury issues with research, education, and outreach.

The Center benefits from the vast educational, research, outreach, and policy resources of the University of Michigan to address the burden of injury in Michigan and the Great Lakes Region.