For Pam Kaloustian, the opening of beach season in Chicago means something special. As an avid swimmer, Kaloustian visits Oak Street Beach at least once a week every summer to enjoy the water, sun and sights.
“The Park District is putting in lane lines parallel to the sidewalk right at Oak Street,” said Kaloustian, 65, of Arlington Heights. “To go around and be able to see buildings while breathing is just incredible. It’s breathtaking.
Kaloustian said nothing compares to open water swimming.
But even experienced swimmers can encounter problems due to unpredictable weather conditions. According to statistics, Lake Michigan is the most dangerous of the Great Lakes for swimming.
As the city prepares to open its beaches Friday, emergency services and the Chicago Park District are warning swimmers to be vigilant.
Dave Benjamin is co-founder and executive director of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. The project tracks Great Lakes drowning statistics and reports that 41 of 85 Great Lakes drownings in 2023 occurred in Lake Michigan.
“Half of all drownings in the Great Lakes will occur in Lake Michigan, and half of the drownings in Lake Michigan will occur at the south end of Lake Michigan,” Benjamin said. “Right now, we’re really at the beginning of drowning season.”
Benjamin said that from year to year, weather is the leading indicator of drownings in the Midwest. The sunnier the days, the more swimmers there are and, often, the more drownings. But there are also a number of seasonal risks that Chicagoans need to be aware of, he added.
This Memorial Day weekend, Benjamin said people should keep in mind that the water in Lake Michigan tends to be much colder than the air, especially early in the season. Swimmers shouldn’t expect pool-like temperatures, he said.
Chicagoans traveling to the lake this weekend may face additional weather risks. According to the National Weather Service, there is a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 p.m. Friday and after 1 p.m. Sunday, and showers are likely Friday afternoon. Saturday will be sunny, with temperatures of 69 degrees.
Benjamin added that swimmers this weekend should remember that they probably haven’t swum regularly in open water since August and their endurance and fitness levels are likely lower.
“The simplest thing people can do to stay safe on the water is to bring a life jacket to the beach,” Benjamin said. “Make sure it fits properly. If you wear a life jacket in the Great Lakes, you have a 99% survival rate according to statistics.
Andrew Walsh, director of beaches and pools for the Chicago Park District, said people should be sure to pay attention to the flag systems at each beach. If visitors see a yellow flag, they should determine whether to swim based on their personal comfort level, and if they see a red flag, they should stay away from the water, he said. he declares.
Walsh also encouraged swimmers not to go into the water alone.
“Stay with friends, have a buddy system, whether it’s a group of friends or your family, know where everyone is at all times,” Walsh said. “Our lifeguards do everything they can to check on everyone, but they can’t see everyone all the time.”
Walsh added that boaters on Memorial Day weekend should be sure to stay out of the buoy line to keep swimmers safe. Although boating is not his purview, Walsh added that boaters should be sure not to drive drunk.
In 2023, 70 boating accidents were reported on Illinois waters, resulting in 12 deaths and 37 injuries, according to statistics compiled by the Illinois Conservation Police. Of the 12 victims, eight were not wearing life jackets or life jackets. This represents an increase from 52 navigation accidents with six deaths in 2022.
Conservation Police also stressed the importance of boaters wearing life jackets.
As temperatures topped 80 degrees Tuesday morning, the water remained fairly empty as people gathered at the lake to sit, walk and bike along the water’s edge.
Linda Mueller, who has been a volunteer swim coach at the lake since 2017, said she is excited the lake is finally open for swimming.
Next week, Mueller will begin holding swim practice –– an activity she loves –– once a week until the first Tuesday in August.
“I think we’re really lucky to have Lake Michigan,” said Mueller, who lives in the Lincoln Square neighborhood. “There is nothing like being lucky enough to find someone who is willing to take you on a boat, just having no one around and just being in cold, deep water in a beautiful sunny day. Or even just lie down in the vastness on your back, on a blanket.
Walsh encouraged swimmers who might find themselves in deeper water this summer not to fight a strong current. Instead, swimmers in difficulty should scream as loudly as possible to get a lifeguard’s attention if they are swept away, Walsh said.
“And if you see someone struggling, don’t go in the water yourself,” Walsh said. “We have lifebuoys every 400 meters or so, so you can throw them to the person in difficulty. And then you just want to call 911.”
On Tuesday morning, the city’s public safety departments gathered for a rescue demonstration before beaches opened Friday. The offices showed how their departments work together to rescue someone who is drowning or if someone calls 911.
Coast Guard Station Chicago said its office responds to more than 100 search and rescue cases a year.
While Benjamin said it’s important to be aware of these boat and helicopter rescue initiatives, he added that swimmers must remain responsible for their own safety.
If a swimmer starts to struggle, they can submerge in less than a minute, Benjamin said. A swimmer underwater for more than 2 minutes, he added, may not make a full recovery. That short time frame often doesn’t give boats and helicopters enough time to identify and get to a drowning person, according to Benjamin.
“It’s great that they have these abilities,” Benjamin said. “But it’s a false sense of security for people in the water.” We need people to know that they really should swim near a lifeguard. They should know where public emergency facilities are located on the beach. They should know where the 911 call boxes are. That’s how you’re going to save your own life.
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