Drowning is fast, silent, and can happen to anyone. Drowning does not discriminate. It can happen in the few minutes a distraction can take you away from the water to answer the phone or run inside for a towel. Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death to children ages 1 through 4 in Florida.
Most infant drownings occur in just a few inches of water such as a bathtub or bucket. Home swimming pools are where most children ages 1 to 4 are likely to drown. Children ages 5 years through adulthood are more likely to drown in natural bodies of water. Each body of water comes with its own safety steps, many of which overlap.
Learning to Swim
Teaching children to swim can make monumental impact on water safety and reduces the risk of drowning.
Local Swimming Classes
- The City of Inverness-Whispering Pines Park offers sessions of American Red Cross swim lessons for ages of 6 months through adulthood. For more information, visit their website or call aquatics coordinator at 352-726-3913, Ext. 1308.
- YMCA of the Suncoast offers a variety of swimming programs. For more information, visit their website or call Nick Dunn at 352-500-9622.
- Citrus County Parks and Recreation Department also offers swim lessons for various ability levels at Bicentennial Pool in Crystal River. Please check their website for availability or call at 352-795-1478.
Swim lesson providers who wish to be added to this list, contact the Florida Department of Health in Citrus County.