World Drowning Prevention Day is held annually on July 25th. This day was declared through the April 2021 UN General Assembly Resolution, “Global drowning prevention.” This resolution acknowledges the importance of drowning prevention and calls for coordinated action to address this leading cause of injury-related death and disability worldwide. Ever since, World Drowning Prevention Day has been adopted and recognized globally.
Florida is surrounded by water. From the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic ocean to our 30,000+ lakes, Florida’s water can serve as a way to cool off after a day in the sun. But, these bodies of water also pose a large threat: drowning. From 2019 to 2021, Florida had the highest unintentional drowning death rate among children who were 1-4 years in the U.S. 6.64 children per 100,000 people died due to unintentional drowning. Florida also had the highest unintentional drowning death rate among children 0 to 9 years of age compared to other states: 3.25 kids per 100,000 people. Annually there are enough children under the age of 5 lost to drowning to fill three or four preschool classrooms.
To stay cool and be safe this summer, check out some local organizations with tips on drowning prevention:
- Water Smart Florida – The state coalition to help prevent drownings. Learn about safety and state laws. Information on partners and additional resources are available.
- Pool Safely -To improve pool and spa safety, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) launched Pool Safely: Simple Steps to Save Lives, a national public education campaign to reduce childhood drownings, submersion injuries and entrapments.
- Florida Drowning Prevention Foundation – FLDPF strives to prevent childhood drowning by funding swim lessons, community water safety education, layers of protection, and to support Florida non-profit drowning prevention organizations and programs.
- Swim Global Project – Based in the heart of Florida, the Swim Global Project is an internationally renowned organization dedicated to drowning prevention on a global scale. Their role as a bridge-builder helps maximize resources and support startups in drowning prevention.
See below for tips from our friends at Swim Global Project!
- Keep watch over children while they are near water. Kids love swimming and water parks, especially in the Florida heat. However, they do not fully comprehend the risks that jumping in the water can hold. Florida has the highest unintentionally drowning death rate among children in the nation: by simply supervising them, a trusted adult could save their life. UCI Health recommends using “touch supervision,” which means the adult should always remain in arm’s reach of the child.
- Check the weather forecast before boating. If you are caught off guard by the weather on a boat, there could be dangerous consequences. Sudden and significant changes in wind speed, wave height, and storm activity can cause injury or fatal consequences. Always be aware and prepared for your day on your boat, because you do not want to be caught in the middle of a thunderstorm.
- Choose to not consume alcohol or drugs before entering water. As previously mentioned, many factors can change while you are out in the water. If a threat to your health becomes apparent in the water, your senses and awareness should be able to function well. Alcohol and drugs will not allow for that, increasing the chances of drowning.
- Put on a lifejacket when swimming or fishing. The water is unpredictable! Weather, sea life, or the tides could affect the state of your boat at any time. In case of an accident, a life jacket can keep you afloat in a worse case scenario.
- Ensuring swimming pools are fenced and hard to access. Unsupervised access to water is extremely dangerous. Pools should not be available to children or intoxicated adults, as drowning is a large threat in these situations. A swimming pool should be completely separate from the house and play area of the yard. It’s also suggested to remove all toys from the pool area that might attract children to the pool when the pool is not in use.
- Teach kids to swim early on. Learning basic swimming and water safety skills can reduce the risk of drowning. Even kids who have had swimming lessons still need close and constant supervision when in or around water.
- Learn CPR and first aid. CPR skills could save someone’s life in the time it takes for paramedics to arrive. Many organizations such as the American Red Cross and American Heart Association offer online and in-person CPR training courses.
- Never swim alone. It’s always better to swim with a buddy, and/or choose swimming sites that have lifeguards. Drowning happens in seconds and is often silent, so having someone with you in the water is always a necessity.
You can also check out the resources page at https://www.watersmartfl.com/resources.html
And the layers of protection webpage at https://www.watersmartfl.com/layers.html!