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Chicago has 26 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and 24 free, public beaches that are punctuated with piers and jetties. The resultant structural currents pose unique risks to patrons who often access the lake outside of the official summer season and during summer season after lifeguards leave at 7 p.m.
Lurie Children’s Hospital plays a key role in addressing drownings in the Chicago region by leading the Water Safety Task Force Metro Chicago. Task Force members include the Chicago Park District (CPD), Chicago Fire Department Water Rescue Unit, Chicago Public Schools, Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, Illinois Department of Natural Resources Coastal Management Program, DuPage County Department of Public Health/Protect Swimmers 10M, American Red Cross, the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, Goldfish Swim Schools, community members, and physicians. The Task Force’s mission is to create a culture of water safety in the Chicago Metro area and reduce drowning deaths and injuries. The group formed in 2018.
Lurie Children’s role on the task force includes: ? Leading the development of the Water Safety Plan for the Chicago region. ? Building and maintaining the task force’s web site www.watersafetychicago.org ? Initiating a drowning data surveillance system for the Chicago region. ? Managing all social and traditional media appearances for the task force. Water safety focused media appearances coordinated by Lurie Children’s have garnered more than 100 million media impressions.
chicagowatersafety.org