Safe Swim

A children’s advocacy group says drowning is one of the top two causes of death for children age 14 and under...and the leading cause of death for children under 5. But, the group says fewer than half of Florida parents know.

SWIM Lee, the Lee County drowning prevention task force held a safe pool party today created from a new water safety checklist. Drowning prevention coordinator with the Lee County Health Department Diane Holm says it’s meant to insure children’s safety whether entertaining a single friend or hosting a party.

“The water safety checklist is an opportunity to look at a list of things that they need to do to make sure that their child is safe whenever they’re near water. And it’s subdivided into several sections, the first one is Am I Ready? The second one is, is this a safe place? The third one is who is watching?

That section suggests appointing a designated watcher. If the day around the water is a long one – assign shifts – don’t assume someone is always watching the children. Holm says it’s also important to know the rules of the pool or beach where your child swims.


Drowning is the leading cause of death for children younger than 4 in the United States and Florida leads the nation. Every year about 800 children aged 14 and under die from drowning and more than four-thousand go to the emergency room after nearly drowning. The Lee County Health Department’s drowning prevention coordinator is Diane Holm.

“It only takes seconds and it is so sad because parents think they’re doing the best they can for their child. They think they’re taking care of their child properly and all of a sudden in just seconds the child has drowned.”


So the health department is pushing a new Water Safety Checklist. It includes information to determine if a child is ready to swim, if the location is safe, what the rules are there and about the importance of designating an adult water watcher.