In South Florida, water is both abundant and essential. From our sought-after beaches to neighborhood pools, canals, lakes, and marinas, water is woven into how we live, play, and connect with one another. With this amount of access comes a shared responsibility to recognize the risks around water.
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The reality is eye-opening. For children ages 1 to 14, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in Miami-Dade County. Across Florida, drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4, according to the Florida Department of Health. These figures are devastating, and they are also entirely preventable.
As we enter the summer season, it’s especially important to highlight all things water safety. Since 2007, national awareness efforts have brought together leading organizations to promote education, outreach, and programming aimed at preventing drowning and water-related injuries.
That message is especially relevant here at home. The Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department (Parks) offers residents and visitors countless opportunities to swim, fish, paddle, boat and enjoy the outdoors through miles of beach access, atoll and swimming pools, the lake and beach at Larry & Penny Thompson Park, and marinas, to name a few.
Water safety is also connected to our commitment to making parks and recreational spaces accessible to everyone. Our facilities are equipped with pool lifts to help residents with disabilities participate safely, and our staff have completed autism and sensory awareness training to better support individuals and families with diverse needs. Additionally, our beaches at Crandon Park and Haulover Park offer accessible pathways that promote greater access to the shoreline.
It doesn’t stop there. Parks also offer access to critical resources that help keep us, our families, and our community safe. This work is central to our mission to enhance the quality of life for our residents. Through our Learn2Swim program offered through the American Red Cross, children and adults have access to swim instruction at our pools across Miami-Dade: 16 during the summer months, 11 year-round.
During the summer months, when demand for aquatic programming and supervision increases, Parks meet this demand by staffing upwards of 200 lifeguards and swim instructors to support the needs of the community. Their work is essential to helping residents safely enjoy our pools and beaches during one of the busiest times of the year.
Every day, our Parks team manages and operates a wide range of pools, splash pads, and water slides that families rely on. They are part of a large team dedicated to maintaining safe and welcoming environments, coordinating programs, and creating meaningful experiences for thousands of people each year. Last year alone, more than 8,900 children enrolled in the Learn2Swim program, which since 1965 has helped generations of residents build confidence in the water while learning critical swimming and water safety skills. With your help in spreading the word about this vital, low-cost program, we hope to serve even more children and families this year.
Our commitment to water safety also extends through trusted community partnerships with organizations such as Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and Zero Drownings Miami-Dade to expand access to swim lessons and water safety education. These organizations help break barriers and connect children and families to life-saving instruction and resources. These efforts have been further strengthened through the collective leadership and expertise that continue to guide many of our most important countywide water safety initiatives.
True water safety requires layers of protection. Children should always be actively supervised by a responsible adult when they are near water, whether at a pool, beach, lake, canal, or on a boat. Barriers such as pool fences and locked gates can help prevent unsupervised access.
Families should also learn basic rescue skills like CPR, and everyone should understand the risks of rip currents, changing weather, deep water, and unfamiliar swimming areas.
We encourage every resident to take an active role in water safety: enroll children in swim lessons, complete a safety checklist before heading out on the water, closely supervise children around all bodies of water, and always wear a life jacket while boating.
Water will always be part of who we are and how we enjoy our home in South Florida. By understanding the risks and making safety a shared responsibility, we can help ensure that every day near the water is not only enjoyable, but safe. Drownings are preventable, and many water-related incidents can be avoided.
For more information about Learn2Swim and other programs and facilities offered by Parks, visit miamidade.gov/parks.
Christina White
Director, Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department
(PROS)