South Florida families are turning to the YMCA for water safety training following a string of recent drownings, highlighting an urgent push to ensure children learn lifesaving swimming skills.<\/p>\n
Danelis Hernandez, who participated in a recent water safety event, said the instruction is essential as she works to ensure her young children become proficient swimmers.<\/p>\n
“For me, it’s very important right now because she’s little and floating,” Hernandez said.<\/p>\n
The YMCA event comes after a series of local drowning incidents within the last month. On July 5, a 4-year-old child<\/a> drowned in a Plantation lake, followed by the death of a 2-year-old<\/a> in a separate Plantation lake on July 9. Additionally, North Lauderdale<\/a> Fire Rescue personnel successfully rescued a 2-year-old from a pool on July 12.<\/p>\n “Absolutely unacceptable. No child should drown. Drowning is preventable,” said Sheryl Woods, CEO of the YMCA of South Florida.<\/p>\n According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4. To address the crisis, the state of Florida has expanded its voucher program for free swimming lessons<\/a>, doubling available funding and raising the program’s age limit to 7 years old.<\/p>\n “I think we have got the entire state’s attention on this crisis that we have in Florida around water safety drowning prevention,” Woods said.<\/p>\n Despite the expanded program, state data indicates that only about 29% of families were approved for vouchers last year. A list of approved sites where families can redeem these vouchers is available\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n