The numbers are heartbreaking: in 2025, there were 112 child drownings in the state of Florida, an increase from 106 in 2024 and 94 in 2022.
Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 1–4 in Florida, and the majority of child drownings occur in residential swimming pools.
Children with autism are 160 times more likely to drown compared to their neurotypical peers, according to the National Autism Association.
Earlier this year, a four-year-old with autism drowned in a pool at an AirBnB in Miami, and the parents are calling for changes to help make sure this doesn’t happen to other parents.
We discuss prevention and what state and local governments can do to help keep kids safe.