SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. — The City of South Haven is considering bringing lifeguards back to its beaches for the first time since the 1990's.
The lack of lifeguards has become a growing concern at South Haven beaches as drownings have increased over the past couple of years.
"That particular lake takes more than half of all the drownings in Michigan. And so it's there is definitely a need for there to be protection on the beach," said Lisa MacDonald, mother of a South Haven drowning victim.
The South Haven City Council voted to appoint a resident to create a plan to reintroduce lifeguards to South Haven's beaches. Several members of the city council say bringing lifeguards back is a priority. It's a move water safety advocates, including MacDonald, believe is overdue and needed at more beaches.
"Our goal is to show South Haven, there is no excuse not to have lifeguards, there lifeguards should not be seen as a luxury or a liability. They should be seen as a priority and a responsibility for these towns that you know spend a lot of money bringing people to their towns," said MacDonald.
Macdonald's daughter drowned at South Haven beach in 2022. According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, seven people have drowned in Lake Michigan while swimming at South Haven area beaches since 2019. MacDonald said one Michigan resident was appointed by the city council, to get all the resources and information needed to develop the lifeguard program.
"They agreed to appoint Heather Johnson as a contact person. She started a program called shape after Korean Emily drowned. She's a resident that's just was tired of all the drownings. And so she goes out and educates and does a lot of water safety stuff" said MacDonald.
MacDonald advises people to wear life jackets and have a designated water watcher when out on the beach so people don't experience what happened to her daughter in South Haven.
She hopes the community continues to advocate for lifeguards on Michigan beaches.
The information and draft proposal of the lifeguard initiative are expected to be discussed at the council's April 19 meeting.
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