Doctors to parents: Make sure kids are safe while swimming

July 10, 2012 (CHICAGO)

The body of 15-year-old Corey McFry was pulled from Lake Michigan near the Ogden dunes Tuesday morning after a two-day search.

Lurie Hospital says he is one of 10 children who have drowned in the Chicago area since the beginning of June.

"It's been hot and Lake Michigan is a huge body of water and the combination of the waves and the current can make a lot of areas quite treacherous," said Dr. Elizabeth Powell, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital. "So it's incredibly important to swim only in designated swimming areas and to not try to swim in areas where there's rough waters."

Dr. Powell used a backyard pool to point out that small amounts of water can also be dangerous. She said parents need to make sure their young children are always an arm's reach away when playing in water.

McFry's family members say they have set up a memorial fund to help pay for his funeral expenses. Arrangements are still being made. Those that want to donate can go to any Centier Bank location and donate to the McFry Corey Memorial Fund.

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