Lack of data around drowning is a national and global problem, as identified by the World Health Organization.
Water Safety Task Force Metro Chicago members identified the lack of data as a barrier to developing effective programs and policies. We are focusing on consolidating and analyzing data for fatal and nonfatal drownings by race/ethnicity, age, gender, and home town to assess the number and cost of drownings in our region.
This focus supports, and contributes to, the work being done on a national level with the first U.S. National Water Safety Action Plan.
Stop the epidemic
We’re on a mission to create a culture of water safety in the Chicago Metro area, and reduce drowning deaths and injuries.
DRowning is preventable.
identifying the problem
Lake Michigan is the most deadly body of water in the U.S., with numerous structural and rip currents, posing unique local challenges.
46% of Chicago children have not had swim lessons, but we don’t fully understand why, and in what areas low swimming ability is an issue.
Nationally, minorities report lower swimming abilities, and have higher drowning rates, but we don’t have a clear picture of the Chicago Metro population.
Programs and policies are only effective if they are based on an understanding of the local population :
Cultural Considerations
- Chicago Metro area has a population of 9.5 million people, speaking over 40 languages.
- 55 million tourists a year visit Chicago and enjoy our lakefront, river, and surrounding waters.
- Chicago is defined as a city of "bathers' not "swimmers". Unlike coastal cities with a beach culture, which typically have a higher level of awareness and greater potential understanding of water safety, this has resulted in a population with relatively low awareness about water safety.
- Chicago Metro faces the challenge of engaging not just with the local population, but with visitors from the surrounding area who may have some knowledge of Lake Michigan, and non-local tourists who likely have no knowledge of Lake Michigan and other local water dangers.
- Rich cultural variability adds to the richness of our communities, while requiring adaptation of water safety and swimming instruction to be respectful of cultural traditions. Swim apparel, beliefs about water, single-sex aquatic settings, days of rest, and more, must be factored into programming.
- Socioeconomic and racial disparities have historically limited access to swimming lessons and pools.
putting the pieces together
Drowning is the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury death in the U.S., but to address drownings in the Chicago Metro area we needed to understand where drownings occur.
All our partners are working together to gather and consolidate data so that programs and policies reach those most at risk.
Data Collection
- Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project has collected detailed information of where and how drownings occur. 2020 was the most deadly year for Lake Michigan, already the most deadly of the Great Lakes. Learn how and where drownings occur most frequently.
- Rip currents and structural currents remain one of the biggest risk factors. Learn how you can identify and escape these deadly currents.
- You can take simple actions today to keep you and your loved ones safer around all water. Visit our Resource page to learn more.
converting data to action
Significant work has been undertaken to identify useful data, and to convert the data to effective programs and policies.
Action Taken
- Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project contines to collect Great Lakes-related drowing incidents and data. Their database contains data from 2010 and is currently the most comprehensive data collection for the area. This data forms the basis for GLSRP's education programs.
- Lurie Children's Hospital developed a distressed swimmer and rescue data collection tool for the public, pool and lakefront agencies, and first responders. This tool is currently being piloted.
- Lurie Children's Hospital incorporated questions about water safety and drowning awareness and knowledge levels in the Voices of Chicago Poll. The responses have provided valuable information about attitudes and abilities aroudn water safety and was used to engage the media about drowning in the Chicago Metro area.
- Lurie Children's Hospital held Focus Groups to assess community engagement and attitudes about drowning and water safety, with an emphasis on assessing diversity and equity. Groups were convened on the South, West, and North sides. Lurie Children's Hospital is also mapping all Cook County pools within the Illinois Department of Public Health database. This information will identify 'swim deserts'.
- Drowning data was requested, and received, from the Illinois Syndromic Surveillance system, which will form the basis for targeted programs and interventions.
- Chicago Police Department identified that drowning falls under "missing persons" in the national database from the Uniform Crime Reporting Program. Work is underway to recommend a national change through the U.S. National Water Safety Action Plan.
- National Weather Service collects Great Lakes drowning statistics to aid in rip current prediction.
grab the opportunity to be part of the solution.
You can participate in training programs.
learn how you and your loved ones can be safer around water.
Get involved.
