‘Lifesaver of the Year’ Award Winner Chosen
The National Drowning Prevention Alliance and USA Swimming Foundation announced the winner of the 2011 Lifesaver of the Year competition.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 5, 2012– The co-founder of the “Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project” was selected as the 2011 Lifesaver of the Year following a national competition. Robert “Bob” Pratt, of New Buffalo, Michigan, received the most votes from among 10 finalists on the NDPA Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/NationalDrowningPreventionAlliance when public voting ended on January 31. Award nominees were required to submit an essay telling how the nominee saved one or more lives in a water-related incident.
Pratt and his guest will receive an all-expense paid trip for two to San Diego, California where he will be honored at the 11th Annual National Drowning Prevention Symposium to be held March 7-10, 2012.
For more information on the 11th Annual National Drowning Prevention Symposium, or to register, please visit http://www.NDPA.org.
#
ABOUT 2011 LIFESAVER OF THE YEAR ROBERT “BOB” PRATT
On August 28, 2011, Robert “Bob” Pratt, Fire Marshal for the City of East Lansing, Michigan and co-founder of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, and one of his class participants rescued a boy who was caught in a rip current on Lake Michigan.
About 30 minutes after taking Pratt’s “Surfboard Rescue Techniques,” class Nick Rymut, a firefighter and paramedic for the Lockport Township Fire Department in Illinois, was catching some surf when he saw a terrified boy caught in a rip current. Rymut paddled out to rescue the boy. Meanwhile, Pratt, who was on shore speaking with a lifeguard and police officers, also saw the boy in danger and sprinted into the water to help Rymut and coach him through the successful rescue.
Pratt says Lake Michigan waters often have “washing machine” surf filled with “flash rips,” which are nearly impossible to escape without some type of flotation device. In 2010, 74 people drowned in the Great Lakes, primarily due to rip currents. As of November 30, 2011, the Great Lakes claimed 85 lives.
bev@payton.com
215-357-5075
The National Drowning Prevention Alliance is a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2004. NDPA members are dedicated to preventing drowning for all age groups in all bodies of water through public education, advocacy and strategic partnerships. The public is invited to join by visiting NDPA.org.
The USA Swimming Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of USA Swimming. Established in 2004, the Foundation works to strengthen the sport by saving lives and building champions. Whether we’re equipping our children with learn-to-swim skills, or providing financial support to our heroes on the U.S. National Team, the USA Swimming Foundation aims to provide the wonderful experience of Swimming to kids at all levels across the country. For more information visit www.swimfoundation.org.
Tags:
