The start of summer is barely a month away and families are already imagining days of fun and frolicking at the beach, in lakes, or in neighborhood pools. But with their excitement, there must be caution. As much as children and youth delight in playing in the water, there is a dangerous side that can spell tragedy for parents and caretakers if they are not vigilant.
The Florida Department of Health estimates that unintentional rates of drowning for kids 0–4 and up to age 17 are among the highest in the nation. In Miami-Dade County, the situation is even worse, with drowning being the leading cause of accidental death for children aged 1–14. That’s why it is critical for parents and caregivers to ensure their children learn to swim and stay safe anytime they are near water.
As part of National Water Safety Month, the Zero Drownings Miami-Dade initiative marked its first year of impactful work during a press conference held in May. This collaborative effort, bringing together Miami-Dade County’s top public and private organizations, is taking action to reduce child drownings.
The initiative’s innovative approach delivers life-saving swim lessons through a school-integrated model. Selected 4- and 5-year-olds from Head Start programs, The Children’s Trust Thrive by 5 child care centers, and Miami-Dade County Public School (M-DCPS) kindergartens are transported as part of their school day to nearby pools for two weeks of swimming instruction.
Since its launch in October 2024, the program has already delivered more than 12,794 swim and water safety lessons to nearly 2,000 children across Miami-Dade. Its goal is to serve 10,000 children during the 2025–2026 school year and reach 20,000 annually by 2026–2027.
“Our investment ensures children facing the greatest barriers to learning to swim gain access to this critical protection,” said James R. Haj, President & CEO of The Children’s Trust. “By bringing life-saving swim lessons directly to children during their school day, at no cost to families, we're not just teaching skills—we're fundamentally changing outcomes for our community.”
“We’re involved in this program because it saves lives,” added M-DCPS Superintendent Dr. Jose L. Dotres. “In a community surrounded by water, it’s crucial that children feel confident and competent in the water and that parents are equipped to support their child’s swimming development.”
Alongside swimming instruction, the initiative reached over 3,100 parents and children through drowning prevention outreach efforts. Community education is vital to the “#JoinTheZeroChallenge” campaign, which aims to increase awareness and equip families with tools to prevent drowning.
In another major step for water safety, Governor Ron DeSantis approved the Swim Lesson Voucher Program last year and this statewide initiative offers free swim lessons to eligible families in local pools. Parents can apply for a voucher at watersmartfl.com. To qualify, families must show proof of income (200% or less of the federal poverty guideline), Florida residency, and that their child is four years old or younger.
Parents and caregivers also play a direct role in water safety through simple but vital practices starting with learning CPR and HELP training. In emergencies, knowing how to perform CPR can save a life. The American Red Cross and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue both offer courses in CPR, including pediatric training. Miami-Dade’s free, two-hour HELP courses are a great local resource—visit miamidade.gov or call 786-331-4425 to register.
Whenever kids are in the water, parents or caregivers should use “water watchers” and use “touch supervision” to safeguard their children. Water watchers are responsible adult how actively supervise children in the water. They should be rotated regularly so they are at maximum awareness. Touch supervision involves staying within arm’s reach of small children and weak swimmers to ensure immediate response to a child in distress is available