NMU is among the organizations that supported the recent installation of three self-serve lifesaving stations on the shore at Little Presque Isle Recreation Area. The stations include personal flotation devices and rescue rings. They were constructed with volunteer labor shortly after two people tragically drowned in the area.

Eric Smith, NMU director of Broadcast and AV Services, is a member of the Marquette City Waterfront Safety Task Force. He was part of a group that met at the scene of the tragedy shortly afterward to discuss what could be done to reduce the risk of a similar incident.

“Self-serve lifesaving stations seemed to be the best course of action at this remote location,” Smith said. “But because of prevailing winds and channel currents that can carry people downstream, we decided three should be placed along the shore in different locations. Through a lot of teamwork and dedication, the task was completed within two weeks. Now bystanders have the tools to help safely initiate a rescue, which is critical because it takes emergency responders about 15 minutes to arrive at that location.

Recognizing that many students interact with Lake Superior and may underestimate its power and unpredictability, NMU has actively promoted water safety for a number of years through print and online educational resources, presentations and other measures. It previously sponsored a lifesaving station at Picnic Rocks, where several people—including NMU students—had drowned. The station was one of three erected in the city in 2011. Swimming was later prohibited at Picnic Rocks.

“It’s really a community effort to change the culture and create a heightened sense of safety,” Smith said. “We’re hoping to extend what was done at Little Presque Isle to other popular areas, such as the beaches at the two turnouts on M-28 toward Munising. We’re hoping to work with Chocolay Township to install lifesaving stations there.”

Smith said other entities that actively coordinated the Little Presque Isle project, in addition to NMU, were U.P. Health System Marquette, area Lion’s Clubs under the leadership of Dan Perkins, the Michigan Sea Grant, National Weather Service, Marquette County Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Coast Guard and the Marquette City Waterfront Safety Task Force.