The Josh the Otter Foundation invites you to get involved. Host a story time. Share information online. Teach a child the water safety pledge. Every step matters. 

Josh the Otter Foundation’s mission is clear: “We educate children and adults everywhere about water safety, using targeted prevention campaigns and early training. We save lives through education. We encourage children to discover a love for swimming—while staying safe. The message is simple: swim with a buddy, swim with an adult, and share what you know.” 

Drowning remains the leading cause of accidental death for Florida children ages 1 to 4. The numbers keep climbing, with 120 young lives lost just in 2025. Most were under three years old. Nearly all drowned in backyard pools while people assumed they were safe, often outside of swim time and without a sound.

We can change this. Water safety isn’t a parent’s job alone. It belongs to everyone. Drowning is quick and silent. Just a pause to answer the phone, and a child can slip under the water. Here in Florida, we’re surrounded by pools, lakes, rivers, and two oceans. Water is everywhere, so safety must be too.

Many infant drownings happen in only a few inches of water, like bathtubs or even buckets. Home pools are high-risk zones for younger kids, while teens and adults face dangers in lakes and the ocean.

To protect our children, we need what’s called “layers of protection.” That means real, undistracted supervision, a designated “Water Watcher” at every pool gathering, who stays off their phone. You should fence pools on all four sides with self-latching gates. Add alarms to every door and window that leads to the backyard. Enroll kids in certified survival swim lessons as soon as possible. Every caregiver should know CPR and always keep a phone nearby in case of an emergency.

Life jackets matter too. Whenever families go boating or visit lakes, canals, or the beach, every child should wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life vest.

Looking for help? Josh the Otter Foundation offers a swimming lesson voucher program for eligible Florida families. You’ll find more details and local safety resources on their website as well as important information at floridahealth.gov.

Let’s make safety part of the plan, because it’s up to all of us.

Click here for more information about the Josh the Otter Foundation.

Click here for more information at floridahealth.gov.

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