Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Campaign Launched

FLORIDA KEYS- In the time it takes to throw in a load of dirty laundry, a child can drown in a backyard pool or canal. The Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition and the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County are pleased to announce the start of a Water Safety Initiative to help prevent these tragedies. The launch of this program coincides with Drowning Prevention Month in May and aims to keep Monroe County children safe in and around the water this summer swimming season and throughout the year.

Florida leads the country in drowning deaths for children ages 1-4. To reduce this number, the Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition and Florida Department of Health in Monroe County plan to make pool safety a priority by working with community partners and reaching out to parents advocating the adoption of three simple water safety measures, which include:

  • Supervision- the first and most crucial layer of protection, someone is always actively watching when a child is in or around water
  • Barriers- an unaccompanied child should never be able to access the pool due to physical barriers surrounding the area
  • Emergency Preparedness- It is critical to learn CPR and have a phone nearby to call 911

“It is important to keep in mind that each incident represents a family tragedy. As an agency dedicated to young children’s health and well-being, preventing child drownings year round is a priority,” said Arianna Nesbitt, Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition CEO. “This campaign encourages a conversation with parents and children, and pool owners and operators as well as those who live on the open water or a canal about the simple safety steps they can take to protect their families. These incidents are preventable. We, along with our partner at the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County, are on a mission to change the way families think and act about water safety.”

The Florida Department of Health in Monroe County and the Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition are planning a series of outreach efforts, including: providing bi-lingual drowning prevention materials at all 476 of Monroe County’s active public pools and bathing places on the department’s inspection routine, posting water safety and drowning prevention signage at the public pools and beaches on the department’s inspection routine, and speaking with local parents and caregivers about their child’s safety.

For more information or to obtain free water safety materials, please contact the Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition at (305) 293-8424 or Florida Department of Health in Monroe County at (305) 809-5607.

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