BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — Florida leads the nation in child drownings. We are surrounded by beautiful bodies of water and it’s why swim safety is more than a story. It’s a priority for us.
In this “Swim South Florida” story, Local 10’s Nicole Perez has found a unique collaboration of organizations working to prevent drownings on South Florida beaches.
Fastening a life jacket before getting into the water can prevent tragedies from happening. It’s a message Broward County officials want to reiterate, especially when children are at play on South Florida beaches.
In April, a school club trip turned deadly when a 13-year-old boy drowned in Fort Lauderdale beach.
At the same beach on Father’s Day, two children nearly drowned after struggling in the water. Their father rushed to save them. The children survived but sadly, the father did not.
“Every type of water involves its own different challenges. And so, when you learn how to swim and get out of the swimming pool, you’re going to get out of the ocean or a canal or a lake differently,” said Rachele Solomon, Injury Prevention and Broward Safe Kids Coordinator, Memorial Healthcare.
Solomon is the injury prevention coordinator for Memorial healthcare and the Safe Kids Broward Coordinator. In her roles, she emphasizes the importance of layers of protection.
“Those layers of protection include things like supervision, swim ability, pool fencing, personal flotation devices and lifeguards,” said Solomon.
It is important to pay attention to the signs, that can be several colors to communicate messages to beachgoers.
“It is so important to know what these flags mean, because it can guide your beach experience,” said Solomon.
With the help of local Boy Scout Troops, Memorial Healthcare and Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Hospital are building life jacket loaner stands throughout the community.
17-year-old Carlos Landivar and his troop built a life jacket loaner stand as part of his Eagle Scout Project.
“This project is very, very important because it helps out not only people who don’t know how to swim but also kids who are just learning how to swim,” said Landivar.
The life jacket loaner stands come equipped with east to follow instructions and a QR code beachgoers can scan for additional information.
“All the life jackets that are on these life jacket loaner stands are Coast Guard approved jackets, and we have a variety of sizes ranging from infant to oversized adult on each stand,” said Solomon.
Solomon reminds the community that while the life jackets are free to use, they’re not to be taken home.
The hope is that the more use they get, the more lives they can potentially save.
“I think my key message would be to remember that drowning is 100% preventable and together we can keep your family safe,” said Solomon.
The Florida Department of health funds the installation of the life jacket loaner stands. There are currently two stands at Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park in Dania Beach. Additional stands will be built this summer in Wilton Manors, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and Pompano Beach.
Swim class resources:
For more information about swimming lessons at the YMCA visit: https://ymcasouthflorida.org/swim-lessons/.
The Florida Department of Health in Broward provides free swim coupons to residents, along with a new lifeguard and swim instructor scholarship program to help fulfill the swim instructor shortage.
For more information, visit watersmartbroward.org.
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