Swimming pool drownings in Florida can be prevented
The Personal Injury Shaked Law firm wants to make sure that all children are safe near swimming pools. The information in this post and future posts will provide the facts surrounding drownings of young children in Florida.
Florida overwhelmingly has the highest unintentional drowning death rate in the nation for the 1 to 4 year old age group and is third in the nation for overall drowning death rates between 1999 and 2004.
Death certificate data -2005- shows that the overall number of drowning deaths in Florida has decreased from 2004. However, there was an increase in the total drowning deaths for the 1-4 age group, from 66 in 2004 to 75 in 2005. Near drownings for 2005 have increased to 227 from 222 in 2004.
Preliminary 2006 death certificate data show that the drowning deaths for the 0-4 age group for January-October was 72 compared to 67 deaths for the same time period in 2005.
Using drowning data, Florida has identified the top 15 counties in Florida with the highest number of the 1-4 age group drowning deaths. The 15 counties are Broward, Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, Orange, Palm Beach, Duval, Lee, Marion, Brevard, Polk, Seminole, Volusia, Manatee, Collier, and Pinellas.
The county health departments in the top 15 counties worked with local partners to conduct drowning prevention awareness activities and distribute educational materials and resources including Water Watcher Tags, in their communities during May and June, 2006 to address this very preventable tragedy.
The Department’s theme for the campaign is “Keep your Eyes on the Kids”, emphasizing that active adult supervision is the most effective drowning prevention strategy for the 1-4 age group.
A paid drowning prevention public service announcement (PSA) with the message “Keep your Eyes on the Kids, was broadcasted in the top 15 counties during the months of May and June, 2006. The PSA focused on adults maintaining constant eye contact with children when they are in or around water.
The Personal Injury Attorneys Law Firm represents people injured or killed as a result of dangerous swimming pool drains and negligent supervision and maintenance of pool safety barriers.
