Illinois officials, water safety advocates say designating adult to watch kids can save lives

EVANSTON, Ill. (WLS) -- As families flock to pools and lakefronts for relief from the summer heat, state officials and water safety advocates are encouraging adults to take responsibility for supervising children around water through a new Water Watcher campaign.

Goldfish Swim School in Evanston has also begun offering Water Watcher Tags, which are intended to designate a specific adult to supervise children in and around the water.

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"Drowning is an epidemic. It's the leading cause of death for children 1 to 4," said Sara Mesnard, director of operations for RJ Group/Goldfish Swim Schools.

Mesnard said assigning one adult to watch children in the water can add an important layer of protection.

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"It's something that having someone who's designated, their whole job is to watch the water, is so important. No distractions, no cell phones, not reading a book. Their entire job is just to watch the water and watch the kids in there," Mesnard said.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has partnered with Lurie Children's Hospital and Safe Kids Illinois to raise awareness about adult responsibility around water through the Water Watcher Tag campaign.

Heidi Mueller, director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, said having a designated role for adults can be critical during emergencies.

"If something happens, having someone designated to call 911 can really mean the difference between life and death," Mueller said.

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Beginning next week, DCFS plans to distribute Water Watcher Tags along Chicago's lakefront beaches as part of an effort to help families enjoy summer activities safely.

"We recognize people want to have fun and they want cool off. And we want them to enjoy themselves, and we really feel like by designating a water watcher you can take the guess work out of it," Mueller said.

Safety advocates and state officials say that whether families use a tag or not, having a designated adult focused solely on watching the water and children can help make outings to pools and lakefronts safer.

Water Watcher Tags are available at Goldfish Swim Schools.

Visit dcfs.illinois.gov to print out a tag.