Free Swim Instruction for Young Children Is Established by New Florida Law
A new bill that takes effect on July 1st establishes a voucher program that provides children with free swim instruction.
In the Sunshine State, there are far too many stories of children drowning.
The YMCA’s Interim Regional Aquatics Director, Rachel Mills, stated that “all of those things can be 100% preventable.”
As per the Florida Department of Health (FDH), approximately 450 individuals lost their lives to accidental drowning in 2022. Fourteen of them are in Duval County.
Beginning on July 1st, a new bill will attempt to lower those figures. It’s crucial to be aware of safety procedures, such as how to enter and exit the water while keeping an eye on your kids, according to Mills.
Senate Bill 544 established the program for swim lesson vouchers. Your child must be at most four years old in order to be eligible for the program.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), children between the ages of one and four drown more frequently than any other age group.
Additionally, the bill stated that a family’s income may only exceed 200% of the federal poverty threshold.
“Making them feel at ease in the water and teaching them those safety techniques,” stated Mills. With just a few actions, I can make such a difference: “If I fall in, I can turn, and I can grab the wall, or I didn’t ask Mom if I should not get in this water.”
Even though the bill went into effect on Monday, it merely states that a program will be established.
The FDH website states that precise guidelines and procedures must be created in order to qualify as a vendor and an application.
“The Department is putting forth great effort to meet this deadline. A message on the website stated that more details will be added as they become available.
They are awaiting a response from FDH regarding the status of their communication regarding the setup process.
In the days leading up to July 4th, the YMCA is offering complimentary swim assessments to determine the swimming prowess of everyone in your family.
“It is entirely possible for people over the kid age to learn how to swim. We start all the way at the baby parent-child lessons all the way up to 100,” Mills stated. “I’ve personally taught a lot. It is conceivable.
The CDC advises building fences around swimming pools and keeping a watch on people in the water. When boating, people of all ages and with good swimming skills are advised to wear life jackets.