Drowning Prevention Information

At A Glance:

• Drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1 - 4.

• Florida's drowning death rate among children age 5 is the highest in the nation.

• Enough children drown each year in Florida to fill about 4 preschool classrooms.

• In Florida, drowning happens year round; however, most fatal and non-fatal drowning occur in the spring and summer.

Drowning is QUICK and QUIET!

Young children can drown in less than...2 INCHES OF WATER

Pool submersions involving children happen quickly and silently with most child drowning victims missing from sight for...LESS THAN 5 MINUTES

Over 1/4 of all drowning occur in swimming pools with adults present but...ADULTS PREOCCUPIED

Facts:

• Florida residents under the age of 10 are most likely to drown in a swimming pool

• Florida residents over the age of 10 are most likely to drown in natural bodies of water.

In 2007 for children under age 5:

• 76% of drowning victims drowned in a swimming pool (58)

• 13% drowned in a bathtub (10)

• 10% drowned in a natural body of water (8)

In 2007 for children age 5 to 9:

• 47% of drowning victims drowned in a swimming pool (8)

• 47% drowned in a bathtub (8)

• 5% drowned in a natural body of water (1)

In 2007 children age 10 and older:

• 73% drowned in a natural body of water (242)

• 27% drowned in a swimming pool (90)

"Keep your Eyes on the Kids" Drowning Prevention Project

"The best prevention for childhood drowning is to closely supervise children when near any body of water, especially a swimming pool"

The Keep your Eyes on the Kids project originated in Arizona and has been promoted in other states, including Florida.  The Water Watcher Tag is a tag on a lanyard that is to be worn around the neck of the designated adult who is responsible for closely supervising children playing in the pool or around any body of water.  The power of the Water Watcher Tag is that:

• It officially designates an adult to watch the children.  Many times adults assume that someone else is watching the kids and in fact no one is watching the children.
• It reminds the adult who is the "water watcher" to officially pass on the responsibility for watching children to another adult.
• If hung near the pool, it provides a reminder that supervision is the best prevention to childhood drowning.

To get your Water Watcher Tag (WWT), visit any Pinch-A-Penny pool supply store in Brevard County and ask for your WWT.

Drowning Prevention Tips

• "Keep Your Eyes on the Kids."  Never leave a child unsupervised in or around water, not even for a second.
• Install four-sided isolation fencing with a self-closing and self-latching gate around pools and spas.
• Install alarms on all doors and windows leading to the pool.
• Learn to swim.
• Learn Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
• Always use U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices (PFD) while participating in open water sports and recreation.