SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - You may never know when an emergency may happen along the Lake Michigan shoreline. If it does in Sheboygan, some new equipment will help in rescue efforts.
The City of Sheboygan is one of several dozen areas along Lake Michigan that are receiving new water safety and emergency rescue equipment from Wisconsin Sea Grant. Also receiving equipment in the area is Kohler-Andrea State Park and Harrington Beach State Park.
Coastal Engineering Specialist Gene Clark says a NOAA grant helped pay for throw rings, life jackets and other equipments for places that have no life guards. "If they need to do a rescue and there’s no guard available, at least there will be something there that they can throw at a person. They can call 9-1-1 and hopefully start the rescue before the rescue teams come," says Clark.
Sheboygan Superintendent of Parks and Forestry Joe Kerlin says the city was contacted by Wisconsin Sea Grant to get new equipment. They will include throw ropes with rings and life jackets that will be placed along beaches in the city. There will also be float-able boards that city responders can access to get to people if need be.
Kerlin says all this will be a benefit in case an emergency does happen. "You never want to go in just by yourself and try to help somebody."
Additional safety information for how to handle strong currents and shoreline situations can be found with the links below: