Check for beach advisories

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, Lake County beachgoers can access the latest information on Lake Michigan and inland lake beach advisories and swim bans at http://health.lakecountyil.gov/Population/. A beach may have a temporary swim ban due to high bacteria counts, which can be caused by stormwater runoff, sewage overflow, nearby septic failure and large quantities of droppings from geese or gulls. Throughout the summer, the health department samples 12 beaches along Lake Michigan four days per week. The Web page is updated daily by 10 a.m. Swimming-related illnesses are typically minor. The most common illness is gastroenteritis, which causes flu-like symptoms that typically develop one to two days after exposure. Other minor illnesses include ear, eye, nose and throat infections. Call (847) 377-8030.