PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Florida leads the nation in child drownings. We are surrounded by beautiful bodies of water and it’s why swim safety is more than a story. It’s a priority for us.
This month, we’re launching a new, station-wide campaign called “Swim South Florida.” The campaign will be spearheaded by Local 10 anchor and mom, Nicole Perez. It’s designed to raise awareness and save lives.
Did you know…
- Nearly 80% of people who die from drowning are male
- Children aged 1 to 4 have the highest drowning rates
- Most drownings occur in home swimming pools
- Children with special needs drown at a rate more than 100 times greater than typically developing children.
Drowning is preventable. There are simple tips you can follow to keep kids water safe. These include…
- Make sure your child wears U.S. Coast Guard-approved flotation devices
- Set up back door alarms and barriers, such as a pool fence, in your home
- Ban breath-holding contests. These games can cause accidental blackouts leading to rapid drowning
- Get as many adult supervisors as possible to learn the basics of CPR
Drowning incidents increase during the summer months when school is in recess. Local 10′s “Swim South Florida” is collaborating with local organizations to provide parents and caretakers with resources to start kids early on swim safety, regardless of economic status.
“The YMCA of South Florida never turns anyone away for inability to pay,” YMCA spokesperson Colin Crilley said. “If someone can’t afford lessons, the YMCA encourages them to visit any one of our centers and a plan will be developed to make swim lessons accessible.”
For more information, visit: https://ymcasouthflorida.org/swim-lessons/.
Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces offers a host of swimming classes for any skill level.
To find out more, visit: https://www.local10.com/news/local/2024/06/11/the-next-chapter-local-10-big-book-drive-connects-viewers-3rd-grade-student/
The Florida Department of Health provides free swim coupons to residents, along with a new lifeguard and swim instructor scholarship program to help fulfill the swim instructor shortage.
For more information, visit: watersmartbroward.org.
“Swim South Florida” consists of public service announcements and news stories that will air on Local 10 News and across all our digital platforms. We will add more resources and updates to this page as the campaign unfolds.