Infrastructure and Data Collection
INFRASTRUCTURE
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.
Chicago Park District posted new signs and flags to better inform beachgoers that it is only safe to swim when lifeguards are present. Your chance of drowning when a lifeguard is on duty is only 1 in 18 million. The Park District flies red flags when beaches are unguarded and during dangerous conditions.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Chicago Park District are installing signs related to Rip Currents, with 35 signs installed to date, and more scheduled.
Chicago Fire Department equipped all of its land and water vehicles with water rescue equipment and is developing a public education campaign to inform the public on how to report accurately the nature and location of a water emergency. All fire response boats are Advance Life Support certified (ALS).
Chicago Fire Department trains all officers on the lake, with lakefront units receiving more training. Chicago Public Schools has made one of their pools available to the Chicago Fire Department for training.
Chicago Police Department and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources are installing water safety equipment in squad cars.
Chicago Park District has begun installing life rings along the lakefront. The need for life rings was identified by citizen activists, who have strongly advocated for on-site resources to reduce drownings.
Lurie Children’s Hospital is mapping all Cook County pools within the Illinois Department of Public Health database for future review and projects.
Chicago Public Schools hired a dedicated Aquatic Safety Manager, has opened a 3rd training site, and is strengthening their cadre of trainers.
DATA
The lack of data around drowning is a national and global problem, as identified by the World Health Organization. The Water Safety Task Force Metro Chicago partners are addressing the lack of consolidated data for fatal and nonfatal drownings to assess the number and cost, and drowning rates across race/ethnicity, age, gender, and hometown.
Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project continues to collect Great Lakes-related drowning incidents and data. The database contains data from 2010 and is currently the most comprehensive data collection for the area.
Lurie Children’s Hospital developed a distressed swimmer and rescue data collection tool for the public, pool and lakefront agencies, and first responders. It is currently being piloted.
Lurie Children’s Hospital incorporated questions about water safety and drowning awareness and knowledge level in the Voices of Chicago poll, which has provided valuable information about attitudes and abilities around water safety. The information 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.
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. An effort is underway to include 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.
Photo courtesy of Chicago Police Department