Community Cares: Water Safety Raises Awareness to Prevent Childhood Drowning.

In the time it takes to throw in a load of dirty laundry...

Pediatric Drownings on the rise this year.

Pool safety is everyone’s responsibility. Drowning can be a silent catastrophe, one that can happen in the few minutes you take to answer a phone call or run inside for a towel. Florida leads the country in drowning deaths of children ages 1–4. Florida currently has 14 pediatric drownings since the beginning of the year, a 100% increase from the same time last year. Families are home more during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s easier than ever to be distracted, but experts warn parents to stay vigilant.

Most infant drownings occur in bathtubs and buckets. Children ages 1-4 are more likely to drown in home swimming pools. Children 5+ are most likely to drown in natural bodies of water.

Learn the steps you can take to secure your pool and protect Florida’s children.

The Layers of Protection

Keep pool time fun by incorporating layers of protection! Supervision, barriers, and being prepared for emergencies help to prevent drownings and keep children safe.

LAYER 1: SUPERVISION

Supervision, the first and most crucial layer of protection! This means a responsible someone, usually an adult, is always actively watching when a child is in, on or around the water. Drowning is usually a silent catastrophe, one that can happen in a second! By the time it takes you to answer a phone call or run inside for a towel a drowning can occur. For children ages 1–4, the majority of drownings occur in residential swimming pools. Children should never be allowed to swim or play near pool drains, and should be taught the dangers of pool drains and pipes. When you teach children, and the whole family, about water safety, everyone can help be accountable for supervision.