Florida TaxWatch has released a new briefing titled "Teaching Every Child to Swim Saves Thousands of Lives from Needless Drownings and Taxpayers Millions." This is the third installment in a series highlighting the importance of teaching children swimming skills early on. The organization stresses that swimming should be viewed as a basic life skill, with President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro noting, “Drowning is a tragic and often preventable accident. It is the leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 4 and the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 5 to 12."
Executive Vice President Jeff Kottkamp praised Florida legislators for their efforts in promoting water safety legislation, stating, “Florida TaxWatch conducts this invaluable research in order to advance public policy that will help prevent children from drowning."
As the state legislative session approaches, Representative Peggy Gossett-Seidman (R-Boca Raton) intends to propose two bills aimed at addressing drowning risks. Florida's geography contributes significantly to its high drowning rates; it has an extensive shoreline and numerous residential pools.
The past decade saw stable numbers in child drownings but a decrease in non-fatal near-drownings among young children due to increased awareness and improved safety measures like pool fencing laws. Drowning incidents not only have personal impacts but also pose economic challenges, with potential risk reduction valued between $6.2 billion and $15.6 billion if such deaths were prevented.
In 2024, SB 544 was enacted, establishing a Swimming Lesson Voucher Program under the Florida Department of Health (FDOH). This program provides vouchers for swimming lessons to low-income families with young children.
Dominic M. Calabro received recognition for his contributions to child water safety with the '2024 Every Child A Swimmer Award' from the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Florida TaxWatch remains committed to advocating for effective policies through research as an independent nonprofit watchdog focused on enhancing government accountability.