CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) --The warm weather is here and Memorial Day is right around the corner, so first responders in Chicago are warning boaters and swimmers to take precautions out on Lake Michigan.
Chicago Fire Department marine and dive teams have already responded to a dozen calls this year. Deputy District Chief Jason Lach described a surface rescue drill Friday morning at North Avenue Beach with assistance from Chicago police and the Coast Guard.
Police Marine Unit Officer Gretchen Chavez said a ship-to-shore radio can help rescue crews locate boats in trouble when cell phones fail.
"In an emergency, every second matters and if you're far out and you're stressed out, it's really hard to gauge where you're at in the water."
U.S. Coast Guard B-M-1 Mike Livingstone shared that they frequently hear from boaters who don’t wear life jackets because they’re strong swimmers – an excuse he said doesn’t matter if you’re knocked out when falling into the water.
Chicago beaches don’t open for the season until next Friday, but dispatchers encourage people to look for green markers on light posts to pinpoint a location in case of an emergency.
"If you see a permanent poll marking, let us know that information," said 911 dispatcher Beverly Carrington.
"If you happen to know your location, please tell us where you are. We want to get as much information as possible."
The Coast Guard adds crews to the lakefront during the busy summer to help with distress calls and law enforcement.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources Officer Erik Vik said his agency recorded 95 boat accidents across the state last year – including 16 deaths, 13 of which the person was not wearing a life jacket.
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