With its white sand beaches, crystal-clear springs and rivers, and world-renowned theme park and resort pools, Central Florida, and Osceola County offer an abundance of aquatic recreational opportunities. However, this abundance of water has also led to a troubling increase in drowning-related emergencies in recent years, particularly among children.

Pediatric Drowning

According to data from the Florida Department of Health, from 2017 to 2019 combined, Florida ranked the highest in the U.S. for the unintentional drowning death rate among children ages 1 to 4 years (6.29 per 100,000 population). Florida also had the highest unintentional drowning death rate of 3.28 per 100,000 population among children 0 to 9 years of age compared to other states.

This wholly preventable tragedy resulted in more than 90 calls for service from our department in 2021 alone, a record number. Of these, more than 80 involved children, and the majority involved children visiting Osceola County from elsewhere in the state, nation, or internationally.

#SwimSafelyOsceola Initiative

To address this critical issue, #SwimSafelyOsceola was developed as a way for local businesses to benefit from displaying swim safety messaging on their outdoor signage – helping visitors be reminded of the importance of keeping their families safe. Commissioner Ricky Booth and Osceola County Fire Rescue are at the forefront of this initiative.

“We are continually striving to educate and empower our community on the importance of swim safety,” said Commissioner Booth. “By taking proactive steps and spreading awareness, we can hopefully prevent drownings and save lives before tragedy strikes.”

The ABCs of Swimming Safety

A is for ADULT SUPERVISION

Near water, all children should be supervised by a designated, sober adult. Teens or older children should never be the only ones responsible for the safety of younger children around pools or other bodies of water. Supervising adults should be able to pull children from the water in the event of an emergency, and should be able to hail a lifeguard or call 911 if needed.

B is for BARRIERS

Door locks, pool fence gates, and audible pool alarms can be annoyances to unlock and replace each time you want to swim in your backyard pool, but they are there for your safety. Children should be taught to respect these barriers, and the pool area should be secured each time you finish swimming.

C is for CLASSES

With so many opportunities to swim in Osceola County, classes on swim instruction are almost a must for everyone, no matter your age. Classes are available through the following:

  • Makinson Aquatic Center, 2204 Denn John Ln, Kissimmee, FL 34744 (Temporarily closed)
  • Chris Lyle Aquatic Center, 2991 17th St, St Cloud, FL 34769
  • Mary Jane Arrington Gym & Aquatic Center, 625 Country Club Dr, Poinciana, FL 34758
  • Various YMCA locations
  • Privately through groups or companies

By following these guidelines and raising awareness, Osceola County aims to ensure safer swimming experiences for everyone and significantly reduce the number of drowning incidents.