May 26, 2004 
Toddler Swim Initiative Announced 
Program Will Increase Awareness About Prevention of Childhood Drowning

Orange County Mayor Richard T. Crotty and Orange County Commissioner Linda Stewart, District 4 today announced the new "Toddler Swim" initiative, which is a coordinated effort by Orange County to increase community awareness about opportunities to prevent childhood drowning. Drowning is the number one cause of accidental death among children under the age of four in the state of Florida. In the last two years, Orange County has lost 16 children to drowning accidents and every day 11 children drown in the United States.

"As a father of two children, I certainly recognize the importance of teaching children water safety at an early age. Both of my children were exposed to water safety before they were two years old. Today, I am announcing the reinstatement of the Central Florida Drowning Prevention Task Force," stated Mayor Crotty. The goal of the Task Force will be to reduce the number of child drowning in our community.

"It was heart-breaking to hear of the death of a one-year-old in the Southchase area," stated Commissioner Stewart. "And to think that 10 other incidents of this caliber occurred on that same day is a direct impetus that something has to be done. With the numerous bodies of water in Central Florida, it's easy for children to become tragic victims of drowning. We have to get the safety awareness programs that are available out to the public stressing their importance."

Toddler Swim is a new collaborative coordinated by Mayor Crotty and Commissioner Stewart and will have a dedicated community telephone number, 2-1-1, which will provide bilingual information about programs available throughout Central Florida. 2-1-1 Community Resources is a community-wide health and human service information and referral line administered by Heart of Florida United Way. Parents and caregivers will be able to access this number and easily get information about programs that are closest to them by providing their zip code.

"Toddler Swim is a long overdue program for the residents of Orange County and just in time for the summer, stated Jerry Demings, Orange County Director of Public Safety. "There are many facilities and programs available to help families learn water safety and get their children enrolled in swim lessons. These partners should be applauded for their proactive efforts."

This program is comprised of community partners including the Central Florida YMCA, City of Orlando Pools, 2-1-1 Community Resources/Heart of Florida United Way, Orange County EMTs and Sheriff's Office, the Red Cross of Central Florida, Orange County Health Department, Safe Kids Community, Orange County Parks and Recreation Department and Orange County Television. This new program is also a step to initiate the Orange County Drowning Prevention Task Force, which currently includes 17 leaders from the organizations listed above.