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Drowning Prevention

Community Health Planning, Promotion, and Communication - DOH-Charlotte

Photo shows a boy smiling while swimming under water in a pool. He is wearing blue swimming trunks.

The Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County's (DOH-Charlotte) Community Health Planning, Promotion, and Communication division offers the following drowning prevention and water safety programs and tools to eligible Charlotte County, Florida, residents as supplies last:

  • Pool Alarms - These devices have motion sensors which alert homeowners when movement is detected in the pool.
  • Swimming Lesson Voucher Program - This program increases water safety and prevents drownings in Florida by providing free swimming lessons to eligible Florida families. To learn more about the Swimming Lesson Voucher Program, visit WaterSmartFL.com.

For additional information about these programs and tools, contact DOH-Charlotte's Community Health Planning, Promotion, and Communication division.

Water Safety

Drowning is a leading cause of death for children in the United States, according ot the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More children ages 1 to 4 die from drowning than any other cause of death. For children ages 5 to 14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death after motor vehicle crashes.

In 2023, Charlotte County's rate of unintentional drownings was 5.6 per 100,000 population, higher than Florida's 2 per 100,000, according to FLHealthCHARTS.gov.

For additional information on drowning prevention, visit the Florida Department of Health's Drowning Prevention webpage.

To remain safe during water activities, follow these tips:

  • Practice Active Supervision
  • Educate Your Family on Swimming Safety
  • Reduce Infection from Water
  • Become CPR Certified
  • Use Pool Safety Tools
  • Wear Life Jackets
Give children and family your undivided attention and actively supervise them whether they are in or around water. Small children can drown in as little as one inch of water so an adult should never be more than one arm’s length away from children when swimming. Use the Water Watcher strategy to prevent lapses in supervision at the pool or beach. To receive a Water Watcher tag that will designate an adult as the Water Watcher while family members swim, please refer to Safe Kids Worldwide's Water Watcher Card.

Educate yourself and children about swimming safety and the importance of knowing how to swim. Whether swimming in a backyard pool or at the beach, it is important for all individuals to know how to swim. If they do not know how to swim, they should enroll in swimming lessons to learn and remain safe in the water. Also, individuals should always swim with a partner,no matter their experience level. If caught in a current, stay calm, don’t fight it, and either float with it or swim parallel to the shore.  

Certain types of organisms can be found in water and can lead to a variety of illnesses. Precautions to reduce infection are: 

  • Avoid swallowing water and keep mouth closed when in a body of water, like the ocean. 
  • Avoid water-related activities in bodies of warm freshwater, hot springs, and thermally polluted water such as water around power plants. 
  • Avoid water-related activities in warm freshwater during periods of high-water temperature and low water levels. 
  • Hold the nose shut or use nose clips when taking part in water-related activities in bodies of warm freshwater such as lakes, rivers, or hot springs. 
  • Avoid digging in or stirring up the sediment while taking part in water-related activities in shallow, warm freshwater areas. 
  • Use only boiled and cooled, distilled, or sterile water for making sinus rinse solutions for nasal irrigation neti-pots or performing ritual ablutions.

It is important to know how to administer CPR as soon as possible in case of an accident occurring. To learn CPR and rescue techniques, contact the Punta Gorda Fire Department by dialing 941-575-5529 or visiting their website.

Be extra careful around pool drains. Educate your family members about the dangers of drain entanglement and teach them to never play or swim near drains or suction outlets. It is also recommended that backyard pools have a barrier installed to keep family members safe. At-home water barriers consist of a pool alarm when a door opens from a home, a pool fencing of at least five feet tall around the pool, and gates with self-latching mechanism.  

Childrenshould always wear a life jacket approved by the U.S. Coast Guard while on boats, around open bodies of water, or when participating in water sports. When boating, all passengers should have a life jacket that fits snugly. Additionally, boat drivers should obey all signs in the waterway and should not drink alcohol when operating a boat.  

Outdoor Safety 

Check out these tips to stay safe during other outdoor activities:

  • Keep Mosquitoes at Bay
  • Protect Your Skin from the Sun
  • Limit Heat Exhaustion
  • Never Leave Children or Pets Alone in a Vehicle
  • Wear a Helmet
To avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes, it is recommended that individuals wear EPA-registered mosquito repellents, wear protective clothing to cover exposed skin, and keep windows and doors closed to prevent mosquitoes coming indoors. Residents should also be aware that standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. It is recommended that individuals drain standing water from outside areas like garbage cans, pets’ water bowls, buckets, etc. Pools should also remain in good condition and chlorinated to limit mosquito breeding grounds.  
Protection from UV rays is important all year round in reducing the chances of having skin cancer. To protect your skin, it is recommended that individuals stay under shade when outside. Individuals should also wear clothing, hats, and sunglasses to limit direct sun exposure and provide protection. Sunscreen is also critical in protecting from the sun. Higher sun protection factor (SPF) and not expired sunscreens should be worn and reapplied at a minimum of every two hours to ensure protection from the sun’s rays.  

Heat exhaustion can develop after exposure to high temperatures and dehydration from not drinking enough fluids or replacing fluids that contain salt after sweating. To limit heat exhaustion, it is recommended that individuals drink plenty of water when outdoors, be mindful of signs of dehydration (like dizziness, low blood pressure, and fatigue) and wear light-colored clothing, sunglasses, and hats. For more information, visit the Florida Department of Health's website.

Never leave your child or pet alone in a car, not even for a minute. Make sure to keep your car locked when you're not in it so kids don’t get in on their own. It is recommended that all caregivers develop a “look before you lock” routine.Everyone can be an active bystander by watching out for children and pets left in cars. If you see a child or pet left unattended in a car, call 911.

Wear a helmet for biking and other sports like baseball, football, and wheeled sports.

Helmets should fit properly and be well maintained, worn consistently, and correctly, age appropriate, and appropriately certified for use. 

Children and adults should wear a helmet when riding a scooter, skating, skateboarding, or biking.

DOH-Charlotte hosts events in the community to provide bicycle helmets and fittings for children as supplies last. For more information about DOH-Charlotte's bicycle helmet fitting services, contact the Community Health Planning, Promotion, and Communication division.