Alison Kerr, Director of Community Health for Department of Health Monroe County, joined Good Morning Keys on KeysTalk 96.9/102.5FM yesterday morning to talk about safety in the water.
Drowning prevention is a critical topic in the Keys.
Kerr said, “Here in the Florida Keys, it’s certainly a warm, wonderful place to enjoy the water pretty much all year round. So I really wanted to emphasize the great importance of everyone who goes around the water, which is literally everyone, we are in a chain of islands that is no more than two miles from the water. In fact, we’re also very close to the canals and swimming pools a lot of times. Here in the Florida Keys, it’s so important to, first of all, make sure that kids know how to swim, not just kids, but also adults. There are many different options that people could choose from to get swim instruction, and that includes here at the College of the Florida Keys in Stock Island, as well as Founders Park and Jacobs Aquatic Park in the Upper Keys. Those locations definitely have options for swimming lessons.”
Are there prevention tips for people who don’t know how to swim?
Kerr said, “If somebody doesn’t know how to swim use the buddy system. If anyone is out in the water or having a party, always, always have a designated person that is responsible for watching the water. So that includes a sibling or any other neighbor or friend. If you have to have a break to stop to go to the restroom or have a bio break even, you just have to make sure that, hey, I have to leave right now, but can you please just watch the water. Even though there’s nobody in the water, it’s always important to make sure that somebody is just monitoring it. You could be enjoying a beer or just having fun, so just make sure that someone’s always has their eyes on the water. Another thing too, is especially if you have a swimming pool, it’s always important to use fences with self latching gates to help control access to the pools. So say you have a child and they’re not able to reach the latching gates. It’s always important to do that. There are such things as alarms. So if somebody does happened to fall in the water or enter the water, there are alarms that are available if you do have a swimming pool. Then, of course, supervise when kids are in or near the waters and that really includes bathtubs as well. Always closely supervise them. Adults watching kids near the water should really avoid distracting activities, like avoid using your cell phone or playing cards or even reading and even talking on the phone. It’s important that you watch your kid or even an adult if you’re in the water or the bathtub.”
The elderly could also be at risk.
Kerr said, “I did pull some statistics over the weekend just to see how we are doing locally here in Monroe County. So looking at some of the statistics, it does appear that 89% of the drownings that do take place within our county are among middle aged to older men, and that probably plays a role in the fact that Monroe has a tendency to engage in some risky behaviors, and that includes being under the influence of alcohol or even sometimes drugs. So it’s also really important if you do go alone out in the water, that you make sure that you go with somebody when you’re out in the water, in case something like that does happen. Of course, when you’re on vacation mode or just fun mode, it’s always important that you still be alert and ensure that you’re being safe while you’re out in the water.”
Be wary of certain flotation devices.
Kerr said, “There are things called the puddle jumpers. They’re not really considered life jackets. Puddle jumpers are essentially those flotation arm devices that you may see sometimes children wearing that is just going around the bicep part of the arms. Those really are the worst that you can put on a child, because it assumes the drowning position, which essentially puts a child into the vertical position, so it kind of gives a false sense of security. The best type of flotation device would be a type one, which is the really meant for open water, and it’s a foam type, and or even a type two, which allows for calm inland waters, and it’s also a foam type, and it assumes a horizontal position, so it kind of helps the child, like, understand how it feels like to float, especially on your back.”
Monroe County does have a swim lesson voucher program.
Kerr said, “This particular program is really a statewide initiative that provides free swimming lessons to eligible Florida families, and this was implemented last year by Governor DeSantis, and it’s part of Senate Bill 544, and there’s a couple of eligibility requirements for receiving a free swim voucher and that includes the child should be under the age of four. Their income should be no more than 200% of the federal poverty level and of course, they should be a Florida resident to take advantage of this. We have very few left, but we would like to receive some more, which we’re working on right now. Right now, there are two approved vendors, including the College of the Florida Keys in Stock Island, and then the Upper Keys, which is Jacobs Aquatic Park in Key Largo. Go on the website, watersmartfl.com if you’re interested in becoming an instructor. That’s the same website for anyone who also wants to sign their children up to be part of this great program. If you know your family is not eligible for this program, please consider to still enroll your child or even yourself in swimming lessons anyway, because here in Monroe County, lessons are very affordable.”
For more information, click here: https://monroe.floridahealth.gov/