South Michigan News

Senator Roger Victory has introduced a bill aimed at enhancing water safety education in Michigan schools. The legislation, presented during National Water Safety Month, seeks to address the high number of drownings in the Great Lakes by mandating water safety instruction for students.

"In honor of National Water Safety Month, I am sponsoring legislation to help save lives. More than 90 people drowned in the Great Lakes last year, and more than half of those happened in Lake Michigan," stated Victory, R-Hudsonville. He emphasized the importance of water safety education and swim training as effective measures for equipping young people with necessary skills to prevent drowning incidents.

Victory highlighted that despite Michigan's proximity to the Great Lakes—where all residents live within 85 miles—many schools do not offer water safety or swimming education. The statistics underscore the urgency: an average of over 4,000 drownings occur annually in the U.S., making it a leading cause of death among children aged 1 to 4 and a significant cause among those aged 5 to 14.

The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project reports at least 1,331 drownings in the Great Lakes since 2010, including approximately 91 in all lakes and 51 specifically in Lake Michigan during 2024.

Senate Bill 295 proposes integrating water safety instruction into existing school courses such as health or physical education. While it does not mandate swimming lessons, it ensures that students receive age-appropriate guidance on safe practices around water.