Evidence-Based Injury Prevention Best Practices

Drowning Prevention

Scope of Problem     Federal Legislation     Florida Legislation
Evidence-Based Interventions     Drowning Prevention Links

Florida loses more children under age five to drowning than any other state. Annually enough children to fill four preschool classrooms do not live to see their 5th birthday.

Florida overwhelmingly has the highest unintentional drowning rate in the nation for the 0 to 4 year old age group with a rate of 7.39 per 100,000 population (Arizona was second for this age group with a rate of 5.41) for 2000-2005.

Alaska, Hawaii, and Florida have the highest overall unintentional drowning rates in the nation between 2000 and 2005, with rates of 3.83, 2.55, and 2.08 per 100,000 population, respectively. The soaring rate for the 0-4 year old age group drives up Florida's overall rate, so if we can impact the 0 to 4 year old rate, we can also make an impact on Florida's overall rate.

For additional drowning data, please see the Data Page.

Return to Top

The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act - (Source: US Consumer Product Safety Commission)

On December 17, 2007, the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (P&SS Act) was signed into law. This important child safety law became effective in December 2008 and strives to:

• Enhance the safety of public and private pools and spas,
• Encourage the use of layers of protection,
• Reduce child drownings in pools and spas (nearly 300 each year involving children younger than five),
• Reduce the number of suction entrapment incidents, injuries and deaths, and
• Educate the public on the importance of constant supervision of children in and around water.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is the lead agency in implementing and enforcing the P&SSAct. CPSC is working with other safety groups in the pool and spa safety community to encourage the use of layers of protection--such as fencing around pools, constant supervision, and requiring anti-entrapment drain covers and other safety devices.

For more information please visit the CPSC web site.

Return to Top

2009 Florida Statutes

Florida's Residential Swimming Pool Law - (Source: Safe Kids USA)
Effective October 1, 2000 - Law requires that new residential swimming pools have at least one of the following: an enclosure, pool safety cover, exit alarms on doors, or self-closing, self-latching devices on entries to the pool. The enclosure must be a barrier at least four feet high on the outside and surround the perimeter of the pool. Gates to the swimming pool must also be equipped with self-closing and self-latching locking devices. The residence may be used as one side of the barrier if it does not contain doors or windows that provide access to the swimming pool.

Gaps in Coverage

• Pools built prior to 2000 are not subject to this regulation.
• There are no public funds for a public education initiative.
• The legislation does not require four sided fencing around the pool.

Return to Top

Manitoba, Canada - Review of Drowning Prevention Best Practices
Harborview Injury and Prevention Research Center - Drowning Prevention Best Practices

Return to Top

Additional drowning prevention information can be found on the Drowning Prevention page, and the OIP Links page.

Return to Top

This page was updated on February 16, 2010.