Orlando, FL — Today, Representative Dr. Anna V. Eskamani (D-Orlando) and Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando) announced new legislation to help prevent childhood drownings by ensuring every new parent in Florida receives evidence-based water safety and safe bathing education before leaving a hospital, birth center, or home birth setting.
The bill requires the Florida Department of Health to develop educational materials on drowning prevention and safe bathing practices. Hospitals, birth centers, home birth providers, and childbirth educators will be required to provide this information as part of postpartum and childbirth education. Nathalie Martin, a drowning prevention advocate with decades of experience in advancing water safety education, drafted this original legislation.
Florida has one of the highest rates of childhood drownings in the nation, an entirely preventable tragedy. By integrating water safety education into the standard postpartum process, this legislation aims to reduce risk and equip families with life-saving knowledge before they ever leave a birthing setting.
Statement from Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith: “Most child drownings happen in a matter of seconds and in places families consider safe. SB 606/HB 503 makes sure every new parent in Florida receives clear, consistent, evidence-based guidance on how to protect their infants and toddlers around water. By integrating drowning-prevention and safe-bathing education into postpartum and childbirth instruction, we can close critical gaps in awareness that experts have identified for years. This legislation is a simple, life-saving step that empowers parents with the knowledge they need from day one—and it will help prevent tragedies before they occur.”
Statement from Representative Dr. Anna V. Eskamani: “Drowning is the leading cause of death for young children in Florida, and every one of these tragedies is preventable. By ensuring that every new parent receives consistent, evidence-based water safety education, we are giving families the tools they need to keep their young ones safe. This is a simple, proactive step that can save lives, and I’m proud to champion it.”
Key Provisions of the Bill:
- Educational Materials: Requires the Department of Health to create standardized materials on drowning risks, water safety measures, constant supervision, early childhood swim lessons, and safe bathing practices.
- Mandatory Distribution: Hospitals, birth centers, home birth providers, and childbirth educators must provide these materials to new parents and caregivers during postpartum care or childbirth education.
- Recordkeeping: Providers must maintain proof of compliance and make records available to AHCA upon request.
- Statutory Updates: Aligns existing postpartum education requirements with the new drowning prevention standards.
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