Megan Ferraro Discusses Summer Water Safety on WGN Radio
Summer brings families across Chicago to pools, beaches, and the Great Lakes, but warmer weather also means increased drowning risks. WGN Radio recently featured The ZAC Foundation’s Executive Director Megan Ferraro to discuss water safety and the steps families can take to stay safe this season.
Why Water Safety Matters
As temperatures rise and more families spend time around water, drowning risks increase significantly. Megan shared that there were 81 drownings in the Great Lakes last year alone, including 36 in Lake Michigan.
For older children and teens, drowning often occurs in open water environments like lakes and rivers.
Layers of Protection
Megan emphasized several important ways families can reduce drowning risks:
- Never swim alone
- Only swim where lifeguards are present
- Enroll children and adults in swimming lessons
- Wear properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jackets while boating
- Install four-sided isolation fencing with self-closing, self-latching gates around backyard pools
- Maintain constant supervision around young children near water
“We want everyone to learn how to swim and we want everyone to enjoy the water safely.”
Read and listen to the full WGN Radio interview.