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Drowning Season Starts Big
Mar 18, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Diane Holm, Public Information Officer (239) 335-1639 or cell 357-3540 DROWNING SEASON STARTS BIG March 18, 2008 – The drowning rate jumps by 50 percent this month and continues to climb until October every year in South West Florida, but at least one group is working to stop it beginning with Water Safety Day, Saturday, March 29, 2008. More than 10 waterfront facilities will offer programs and information on keeping kids safe around the water on Water Safety Day, sponsored by the South West Florida Drowning Prevention Committee (SWFDPC). Everything from free swimming lessons to sunblock samples will be given out at the participating pool sites in the hope that no more drownings occur in Lee County this year. At least one Lehigh child under age 5 died of drowning already this month. "Drowning is totally preventable," said Diane Holm, Chair of SWFDPC and Public Information Officer for Lee County Public Safety. "We can't get rid of a child's natural curiosity, but we can create layers of protection, to buy parents and caregivers those precious few minutes needed to find a child near water before tragedy occurs." "It only takes seconds," said Holm. "Parents lose sight of their child while handling every day tasks only to find them at the bottom of the pool, spa, decorative pond, bath tub or mop bucket. They don't want to believe this can happen to them." Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 in the state, and Florida leads the nation by nearly double in drownings according to Centers for Disease Control data. Florida loses the equivalent of two pre-school classes of children to drowning each year. Nationwide CDC identifies swimming pools as the leading location for pre-school age drownings. Overall, more than 800 children ages 14 and under die from drowning, and more than 4,000 go to the emergency room after near-drowning incidents annually For more information, contact Diane Holm at (239) 335-1639.
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