CPD, CFD promotes safe boating as weather warms

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Divers with the Chicago Fire Department recreated a water rescue on Lake Michigan Monday.

It's a race against time in 50-degree water, a victim only has about eight minutes before hypothermia sets in.

But in this case, the mannequin was lifted to safety - a happy ending to a dramatic lesson for some high school kids about boating safety.

Last year, we responded to about 250 water rescue incidents, we removed over 77 people from the water," said Chief Ronald Dorneker, Chicago Fire Department.

The Chicago Fire Department, along with Chicago police, the Coast Guard and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources helped kick off National Safe Boating Week.

With Lake Michigan being a popular destination throughout the summer, boaters are advised to make sure their vessels have the proper safety equipment on board, like marine radios.

"Cell phones, once you get a couple miles off shore, will not work well, so that's not the way to contact shore if you have a problem," said Lt. Allison Schloss, Chicago Police Department.

Also, life jackets are a must, especially wearing them as soon as the boats leave the shore.

"It's much more difficult to put one on once they're in the water than if they're already wearing it, if they fell off a boat," Schloss said.

These lessons were taken to heart for some of the kids who had the chance to ride out on Lake Michigan with the different agencies that respond to boating emergencies.