{"id":525,"date":"2026-05-14T23:02:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T23:02:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=525"},"modified":"2026-05-14T23:02:01","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T23:02:01","slug":"zero-drownings-miami-dade-expands-water-safety-program-for-kids-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=525","title":{"rendered":"Zero Drownings Miami-Dade expands water safety program for kids"},"content":{"rendered":"<article><!-- --><!-- --><!-- WPS-5038 -- removed the script from WPS and added the placeholder for trinity player --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- CONTENT --><!--[--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>How much would you pay to keep your child safe?<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Well, their swimming lessons could be free.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Zero Drownings Miami-Dade offers free water safety education and swim lessons for children who may not be able to learn otherwise. The public-private initiative has been providing transportation and services to selected schools for three years, having elementary-aged students learn techniques to avoid drowning. The collaborative movement\u2019s work in prevention \u2014 established by the Children\u2019s Trust, South Florida region American Red Cross, the Miami Foundation, United Way Miami, and Miami-Dade County and its public schools \u2014 is all for the goal of, as its name suggests, having zero further deaths by drowning.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=524\">\u2018Cuban Mafia\u2019 boss caught in Mexico is expected to face charges in Miami<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Partnering with over a hundred schools and childcare centers, Zero Drownings Miami-Dade has helped over 5,000 children learn 30,000 swim safety lessons.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Following new investments by Bloomberg Philanthropies and Griffin Catalyst, the initiative announced an expansion of their program aiming to reach more children, including extending services beyond schools to select summer camps.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>On Thursday, Zero Drownings Miami-Dade showcased the program with a full class of swim students at the county\u2019s Rockway Park Swimming Pool, 9460 SW 27th Dr. The program provides 10 swimming classes through field trips, involving physical lessons, drowning prevention curriculum, and awareness campaigns.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Drowning is the No. 1 cause of accidental deaths for children age 1-14 in Miami-Dade County, with ages 1-4 affected the most nationwide. According to the Journal of Pediatrics, formal swim lessons could reduce the risk of drowning by 88%.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne drowning is one too many,\u201d said United Way Miami President and CEO Symeria Hudson. Having taken swimming lessons as a child, she added, \u201cI can\u2019t say that I can swim like a fish, but I will say that I received life saving skills that I carry throughout my adulthood.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Swimming lessons are not typically cheap, and due to expenses or transportation conflicts, many families struggle to access swimming education for their children.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=522\">A dispute over attorneys in Miami death-penalty case could end up in Tallahassee<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Zero Drownings Miami-Dade aims to bring in additional schools, pools, lifeguards, trainers, partners, and transportation to make swim instruction more accessible.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is particularly important in our community where there\u2019s water everywhere,\u201d Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said. \u201cEverywhere. And we need our children to be drown-proofed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>For mom and teacher at Rockway Middle School Vanesa Roche, that message rings true. Her daughter, Alyssa, is in her first week with the Zero Drownings lessons, and could already showcase her skills at the program demonstration.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe comes home this past three days with stories, and she\u2019s learning a lot,\u201d Roche said. \u201cI feel very fortunate to be a part of the program as a parent.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Zero Drownings Miami-Dade partners with schools, childcare centers, and camps in Miami, Hialeah, Cutler Bay, Homestead, Hialeah Gardens, North Miami, and counting.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat better place for a kid to be than a pool,\u201d president and CEO of the Children\u2019s Trust of Miami-Dade County, James Haj, said. \u201cThey may not necessarily be Olympic swimmers, but we will prevent drownings, and\u2026 near drownings.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=521\">Zero Drownings Miami-Dade expands water safety program for kids<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Zero Drownings Miami-Dade is collaborating with investors to expand a program that teaches kids how to avoid drowning with free swim and water safety lessons<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":520,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-525","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-miami-dade-county"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - 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