Wristbands support Teen Safety DVD
DVD aimed a preventing teen drownings to be distributed statewide
October 1, 2005, 11:28 AM
GRAND HAVEN, Mich. (AP) — Vicki Cech knows firsthand about the power of the Great Lakes.
It has been two years since the Grand Haven woman’s 17-year-old son Andy Fox drowned in Lake Michigan. Now she’s sharing her story in a film designed to teach pier and beach safety to high school and middle school students.
The “Respect the Power” DVD is being distributed by the Great Lakes Beach and Pier Safety Task Force to 2,900 schools and public libraries in the state, said task force member Vince Deur.
“In Michigan, no matter where you are, you’re 100 miles from a Great Lake. We’re surrounded by the lakes and we’ve experienced drownings from every other community,” Deur told the Grand Haven Tribune for a Friday story.
The newspaper helped raise funds for the DVD’s distribution by selling orange rubber wristbands imprinted in black with “Pier Safety is a matter of life and death.” The wristbands, which sold for $2 in August and September, raised about $4,200.
The funds paid for labels and postage to mail the DVDs. Sales will continue through the end of the year. About half of the DVDs have been mailed and the task force plans to send the rest next week.
The task force became a year-round initiative after three teens drowned at Grand Haven State Park in 2003. In addition to Fox, of Grand Haven, 17-year-old Scott Smith of Norton Shores and 19-year-old Daniel Reiss of Grand Haven drowned. In July, a 19-year-old Grand Ledge teen also drowned.
The 17-minute DVD features photos of three teens who died in 2003 and shows waves that reach as high as 50 feet. It offers information on hypothermia and ways to identify and escape a rip current.
“It is a relief to finally get the video out to so many schools and libraries in hopes of saving a life,” Cech said.
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Information from: Grand Haven Tribune, http://www.grandhaventribune.com
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