With the weather heating up and more people heading to lakes, rivers and ponds, state officials have scheduled free water safety classes in northern Illinois.
The Great Lakes Water Safety Class programs will be held at the Waukegan Yacht Club in Waukegan on June 1, Montrose Beach in Chicago on June 7 and at Rainbow Beach in Chicago on June 8.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources officials said 340 people have drowned on the Great Lakes since 2010. The classes are designed to help people recognize the dangers swimmers face and show them what to do to help themselves or other swimmers when they get into trouble.
Registration is available on the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project website.
A woman died May 7 while swimming in Lake Michigan. Two other men died May 21 after being pulled from the lake in "extremely critical" condition. Authorities said the men were victims of hypothermia.
