Florida is seeking to reduce drowning by enacting a new law that requires public schools in the state to ask parents if their child has taken swim lessons, and offer education to those children who haven’t had lessons.
The new law, which takes effect for the 2022-23 school year, would require schools to provide swim safety and education materials to any child that has not had swim lessons.
Florida had 96 reports of drowning across the state in 2021, a record high for the state.
According to News 13, data from the Red Cross shows that swim lessons can reduce risk of a child drowning by close to 88 percent.
Gina Jacobs Thomas, owner of the Goldfish swim school, told News 13 that parents should be aware of water safety hazards around their home.
"So, making sure that any water toys, water tables, bathtubs, buckets, anything’s drained after use — children can die in as little as two inches of water,” Jacobs Thomas said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the leading cause of death in children aged 1-4.
