Miami-Dade County unveils program to prevent drownings
DORAL, FL – Miami-Dade County launches program to prevent drownings. The Zero Drownings initiative aims at offering free swimming lessons to children between three and five years old enrolled in public and private early learning centers, as well as in some Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
The purpose of this program is to facilitate access to swimming safety lessons throughout the year and not only during the summer to kids in selected programs such as Thrive by Five of The Children’s Trust, Head Start of Miami-Dade County and specific M-DCPS schools.
“In every school of our district there will be math, reading, science, and now also swimming instruction at the schools where the program will be implemented,” Superintendent Dr. Jose Dotres said.
Participating schools will send a notification to parents so that interested families can authorize their children’s enrollment in the Zero Drownings initiative.
Although the program to prevent drownings could be offered permanently as Miami-Dade County wishes to do so, for now it will be active for only three years. A total of 4,000 children are expected to complete the program in the 2024-2025 school year, 10,000 children in the 2025-2026 school year, and 20,000 children in 2026-2027.
Zero Drownings is a comprehensive and collaborative effort between The Children’s Trust, Miami-Dade County, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the American Red Cross – South Florida Region, The Miami Foundation, United Way Miami, Edu Foundation, and the Templeton Family Foundation.
Lessons will be delivered using American Red Cross-certified curriculum for cohorts of four and five-year-olds during the school day at public or private water safety swim provider locations. Participating children will be transported to the nearest swim provider as a daily school field trip over the course of two weeks.
The program also includes a water safety curriculum to teach them to be smart in and around water, and a digital water safety course for their families.
“Through education, resources, and heightened awareness, drownings are preventable, and we know that teaching children at this young age is preparing them for life,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “This vital program is a testament to our community’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our children. Together, we can make our Miami-Dade a place where families can enjoy our beautiful waters without fear, and make zero drownings not just a goal, but a reality.”
Florida leads the nation in the number of deaths by drowning among children under four years of age, according to the Department of Children and Families. In Miami-Dade, drowning is the leading cause of death between 1 and 9-year-olds.
For more information, please visit www.zerodrowningsmiamidade.org
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