With temps heating up around Southwest Florida, bodies of water, from beachside to poolside, will see much more activity in the coming months. 

With more people in the water comes a greater chance of accidental drownings and other water-related incidents. 

May serves as National Water Safety Month, with a history of highlighting water awareness and swim safety starting in June 2003, when the World Waterpark Association launched its National Water Safety Week.

The coalition is made up of organizations such as the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, American Red Cross, National Drowning Prevention Alliance, National Recreation and Park Association, and World Waterpark Association. 

According to the NDPA, there are more than 4,500 unintentional drowning deaths each year in the United States, adding drowning is fast, silent, and can happen in as little as 20 to 60 seconds. Even a good swimmer can drown. 

According to the CDC, drowning is the single leading cause of death for children ages 1-4. No other single cause of death kills more toddlers and young children than drowning. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death in children ages 5-14 following motor vehicle crashes.

NDPA officials state that drowning doesn’t always result in death, it can cause hypoxic brain injury with moderate to severe impacts on quality of life and health outcomes. 

The NDPA offers “5 layers of protection” to help prevent drownings:

• Barriers and Alarms: It’s important to use four-sided fencing with self-closing, self-latching gates, pool safety covers, and alarm systems, to help prevent children and unauthorized adults from accessing water unsupervised.

*** Supervision: Stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings with close, constant, and capable adult supervision from a designated water watcher or lifeguard anytime children are in or around water.

*** Water Competency: Every child and adult should be equipped with the skills to protect themselves in water by learning and enhancing their basic water safety skills to reduce the risk of drowning and aquatic-related injuries.

*** Life Jackets: When used appropriately, life jackets protect you when you are not expecting to be in the water, especially around open water. Ensure your life jackets are tested & approved by the USCG

*** Emergency Preparation: Knowing how to prepare for an emergency with CPR training with rescue breaths and basic water rescue skills can make the difference between life and death. Have a phone available and ready to call 911.

According to the Florida Department of Health, children ages 1-4 years-old are more likely to drown in a home swimming pool than children ages 5-19 years-old, who are more likely to drown in natural bodies of water.

Water safety tips from FDOH include:

*** Always keep your eyes on children in and around water, including pools and open bodies of water. Actively supervising and giving children your undivided attention when they are in or around water can help prevent drownings.

*** Never leave a child alone around water

*** If your child is missing, check other pools or surrounding bodies of water

*** Use barriers around water, including fences, self-closing/self-latching gates, and secure doors with alarms. Barriers help prevent young children from wandering into bodies of water, including lakes, pools, ponds, and more.

*** Have a phone nearby in case you need to call 9-1-1 in an emergency

*** Open cuts or wounds should not be immersed in water; if there’s bacteria in the water, it can enter the body through a cut or wound.

*** If a cut or wound happens when in the water, it should be washed with clean, running water and soap and covered with a clean, dry waterproof bandage.

To mark National Water Safety Month, Pool Scouts has partnered with the Hope Floats Foundation to donate more than 1,500 swim lessons for children living in poverty. Since 2021, Pool Scouts has raised $82,000 for Hope Floats, and this year, the brand is setting a $20,000 fundraising goal to push total donations over the $100,000 mark. Throughout Water Safety Month, Pool Scouts of Cape Coral will donate a percentage of each service to the Hope Floats Foundation to provide scholarships to children for swim lessons. Hope Floats is an organization whose mission is to protect every life from drowning through education and water safety awareness.

Co-owner of Pool Scouts, Kate Richard, along with Scott Tyne, said this is the fourth year the Cape Coral arm has helped provide lessons through the Hope Floats Foundation. For every pool service completed in the month of May, Pool Scouts will donate $1 to Hope Floats to provide scholarships for children in the community to have swim lessons.

“We’ve always believed that pool safety is just as important as pool maintenance,” Richard said. “When we learned about Hope Float’s mission to provide those swim lessons, it was just a perfect fit. It’s a very meaningful way to make a local impact on our community. With drowning being the No. 1 cause of accidental drowning in children, it’s very near and dear to our hearts to reduce that risk for as many children as possible — especially because a high percentage occur in residential pool.”

Richard said now is a great time for parents to talk with their children about how yes, the pool is a fun activity, but also, the dangers involved. There’s also a conversation to be had amongst adults, too. 

“It’s definitely important to have those conversations with kids, but also, with other adults,” she said. “So when you’re having pool parties, make sure you have a designated person who is on pool patrol. Sometimes you start chatting with other adults and you think somebody else is watching the kids. It’s important to make sure there is always someone dedicated to lifeguard duty, no matter what age the kids are.”

Richard also noted that the color of one’s bathing suit can also play a role in how visible they are to those keeping an eye on things. 

“The color, in certain waters, are more visible or less visible,” she said. “In a residential pool when the water is clear of blue, wearing black or red or brighter colors are easier to spot.”

Pool Scouts’ pursuit of getting as many local children a valuable swim lesson is a paramount step in pool safety as well. 

“Swimming lessons is one of the best ways to help prevent any drowning accidents,” Richard said. “It gives the kids those skills that they need so that when they receive that formal lesson, it will hopefully potentially save their lives if they were ever in that situation.”

Providing other safety tips, Richard added, “Having those safety fences is definitely important. It’s a great line of defense. Having beepers on your sliders into your lanai is good so that you know if they’ve ever opened those doors.”

More information on National Water Safety Month.

More information on Pool Scouts of Cape Coral. 

More information on the Hope Floats Foundation.