As National Water Safety Month came to a close in May, Safe Kids North Central Florida is urging families, caregivers, and community leaders to prioritize water safety following a recent increase in drowning and submersion-related incidents across the region.

Led by UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital Trauma Services, Safe Kids North Central Florida said the community has experienced a troubling number of drowning and submersion emergencies in less than two months, underscoring the need for increased awareness and prevention efforts as summer begins.

Florida continues to lead the nation in drowning deaths among children younger than 5 years old. Drowning remains one of the leading causes of preventable death for young children and can occur quickly, silently, and in only a few inches of water.

“These incidents are not isolated accidents — they are preventable tragedies,” said Jordyn Zyngier, Safe Kids North Central Florida and Injury Prevention coordinator at UF Health, in a press release. “As a community, we must move beyond awareness and toward action. Water safety has to be a priority for every parent, caregiver, and adult supervising children near water, especially as we enter the summer season.”

National statistics show that more than 1,000 children drown each year in the United States, while thousands more receive emergency treatment for submersion-related injuries. Safety experts note that even brief lapses in supervision can lead to tragedy. Research indicates that while most parents report supervising children during swimming activities, many also acknowledge engaging in distractions such as talking, eating, reading, or caring for another child.

“Every submersion injury and drowning is devastating because so many are preventable,” said Dr. Shawn Larson, a pediatric trauma surgeon with UF Health, in a press release. “Drowning is often silent, fast, and can happen even when adults are nearby. Situational awareness around any body of water must be constant. We urge families to designate an attentive adult whose sole responsibility is watching children in and around water. A moment of distraction can change a life forever.”

Safe Kids North Central Florida recommends several key safety measures for families this summer:

• Designate a “Water Watcher” whose sole responsibility is actively supervising children in and around water without distractions.
• Install four-sided fencing, self-latching gates, pool covers, and alarms to prevent unsupervised access to pools and other water hazards.
• Teach children never to swim alone and always swim with an adult or buddy present.
• Ensure children wear properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets when boating, participating in water sports, or spending time near open water.
• Never leave children unattended in bathtubs, even briefly, and drain tubs immediately after use.
• Learn CPR to improve emergency preparedness and response.

Safe Kids North Central Florida encourages residents to review water safety practices and discuss drowning prevention with family members before participating in summer water activities.

More water safety information is available at the Safe Kids pool safety website at safekids.org/poolsafety.

About Safe Kids North Central Florida

Safe Kids North Central Florida works to prevent unintentional injuries, the leading cause of death among children in the United States. The organization is part of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network dedicated to reducing preventable childhood injuries. Safe Kids North Central Florida is led by UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital Trauma Services.