"Heart-Wrenching": 60 Drownings Reported in Florida in First Half of 2024

Florida officials reported Tuesday that out of the 60 fatal drownings so far this year, 47 involved children who were not supposed to be in or near water.

State officials are urging residents to prioritize water safety after reporting that 60 people have drowned in Florida during the first half of 2024.

Speaking from a swimming pool in Monroe County, Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez highlighted the state's unique geography, emphasizing that Florida is surrounded by water. She pointed out that drownings are the leading cause of death for children aged 1 to 4.

"That is heart-wrenching. That is something that for us, the governor, and myself, is completely unacceptable. We want to make sure that we provide everyone ample opportunities, the tools, and the resources they need to keep their children safe. Drownings are completely preventable," Nuñez said.

"Think about that. That's 60 families upended. Sixty families destroyed, having to deal with that tragic situation. So we want to do everything we can as a community, as a state, to be able to bring information to individuals, make sure that they understand that we all have a role to play, that we all have a responsibility to keep ourselves and our family members, especially our children, safe."

Nuñez noted that Florida is home to approximately 1.5 million residential pools, over 42,000 public pools, and at least 825 miles of sandy beaches.

"So more important than ever, we want to make sure that we bring awareness to water safety and drowning prevention," Nuñez added.

Shevaun Harris, secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families, reported that out of the 60 fatal drownings, 47 involved children who were not supposed to be in or near water.

"This is a stark reminder that we cannot let our guards down ever, even when we're not around water," Harris said.

Harris highlighted that at least 80 percent of drowning deaths reported to the DFCS hotline involved children during non-swim hours. She also mentioned that in the past month alone, 14 children have drowned, including a 6-year-old child with autism who was found near a body of water.

"The loss of a child is unimaginable, and for families who've experienced such a tragedy, my heart goes out to you," Harris said. "We are here today to ensure that no other parent has to go through that because water-related injuries and fatalities are preventable when the right precautions are taken."

Drownings can happen to anyone, regardless of age, and can occur within seconds, Harris noted.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Florida ranked fourth in the nation for unintentional drowning deaths among all ages in 2021, with 2.23 fatalities per 100,000 population. From 2019 to 2021, Florida had the highest unintentional drowning death rate among children ages 1 to 4, with 6.64 per 100,000 population, and among children ages 0 to 9, with 3.25 per 100,000 population.

Annually, dozens of children under the age of 5 are lost to drowning in Florida, according to Florida CHARTS:

- 60 in 2020

- 75 in 2021

- 67 in 2022

Florida Surgeon General Joseph A. Ladapo advocated for layers of protection regarding water safety. Thanks to a newly approved voucher program, free swimming lessons will be offered to low-income families with one or more children aged 4 and younger. Gov. Ron DeSantis allocated $500,000 to the Florida Department of Public Health to implement the program.

"That means that we are making it easier for Florida families to enjoy all that our state has to offer and giving them the resources they need to do so," Nuñez said.

She offered the following water safety tips:

- Supervise children at all times, even if they can swim or are in the bathtub.

- Engage in swimming lessons.

- Ensure pool barriers and gates meet state law requirements.

- Add extra protection to unsupervised access to everything, such as hot tubs, by providing lock covers and working alarms on doors and windows.

- Follow life jacket laws.

- Learn CPR.

- Check local conditions when heading to the beach.