63 miles of shoreline in Illinois,

24 free public beaches in Chicago,

along the Great Lakes’ deadliest body of water

Water Safety Task Force Metro Chicago is improving water safety for our residents and visitors.    

In the home and on the beach, Chicagoans are surrounded by water - a source of joy and danger. Our goal is simple, we want you to enjoy water, safely.

The Task Force was created in 2018 to create effective policy and programming designed to establish a culture of water safety and set a standard for drowning prevention efforts in the Metro Chicago area.

Help us learn what Chicagoans know about water safety by filling out a quick survey!

We’ll use your answers to improve our website and education efforts.

Our Actions

WATER SAFETY TASK FORCE CHICAGO METRO PARTNERS COLLABORATE TO MAKE ALL LOCAL WATERS SAFER FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND GUESTS.

Key Accomplishments:

  • Sharp increase in collaboration across government agencies to implement water safety initiatives in the Chicago Metro area.

  • Building an infrastructure which prevents the public from entering dangerous situations and allows for fast emergency response. Prevention and fast reaction can be the difference between life and death.

  • Focusing on water safety education and awareness; building search and rescue infrastructure; collecting and utilizing data; and providing skills-based training in swimming, lifeguard training, and CPR.

  • Drawing on national and global research and best practices as we implement our Water Safety Plan. We also contributed to the development of the U.S. National Water Safety Action Plan and are using tools in the national plan to advance our work locally.

SKILLS-BASED TRAINING

Swim lessons, lifeguards, and knowing CPR can be the difference between life and death.

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INFRASTRUCTURE AND DATA COLLECTION

Brain damage can begin within one minute of submersion. Death by drowning typically occurs anywhere from 2-10 minutes, depending on the victim’s age, water temperature, and other factors.

Infrastructure which prevents the public from entering dangerous situations and allows for fast emergency response can be the difference between life and death.

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EDUCATION AND AWARENESS

Very few people know that drowning is a problem, much less the 3rd large cause of unintentional injury death in the U.S. This translates to relatively low understanding of how to be around water safely

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What you need to know

You can protect yourself, your family, and your friends from drowning. Learn how you can be safer around water, both at home and out in nature. 

Be part of the solution.
Participate in training programs. 
Learn about your local water hazards.

Don’t stand by. Get involved.

#DROWNINGISPREVENTABLE

Learn more about Lake Michigan’s rip currents and structural currents.

To watch the full Rip Current Rescue documentary, click here.

Video clip generously donated by CSK Group and Jason Markland.