Seminole County health officials urge families to prevent drownings

A backyard pool, a dock or a few seconds of distraction can turn a normal day into a tragedy. Florida lost 112 children to drowning in 2025, and most of those deaths were among children younger than 4, a toll that has Seminole County health officials warning families that water safety cannot wait for summer.

In a May 2026 release, the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County said National Water Safety Month, observed each May, is meant to educate families about drowning prevention and safe enjoyment of Florida’s lakes, rivers, beaches and pools. State health guidance says drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for Florida children ages 1 to 4, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says more children ages 1 to 4 die from drowning than from any other cause of death in the United States. The CDC also says there are more than 4,000 unintentional drowning deaths nationwide each year.

Health officials said home swimming pools are where most children are likely to drown, even as natural bodies of water remain a serious risk for older children and adults. That distinction matters in Seminole County, where families spend much of the year around neighborhood pools, lakes and waterways. The warning from public health leaders is simple: drowning is fast and silent, and a brief lapse in supervision can be enough.

Seminole County has pushed prevention beyond messaging. The county said its Fire Department, working with the Community Health Division and partners including the Seminole County Sheriff Foundation, the Gunner Martin Foundation and the Wesley Seth Foundation, has distributed more than 1,500 free door alarms and pool alarms to residents. The county also pointed families to swimming lessons, pool fencing and life jackets as core safety tools.

One state program aimed at helping families was the Florida Swimming Lesson Voucher Program, which offered free swimming lessons to eligible Florida families. The current application cycle closed on March 20, 2026, but the broader message remained unchanged: the most effective protection around water still starts with adult attention and barriers that keep children from slipping outside unnoticed.

The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office has also told parents never to allow children to swim alone and to maintain constant supervision. With pools, lakes and beaches drawing more families into the water, officials said the safest habit is the oldest one: keep a close watch every time a child is near water.