Florida "Keep Your Eyes on the Kids" Program Helps Prevent Drowning

During the now infamous Casey Anthony trial, the defense alleged that her daughter Caylee Anthony had drowned in the family swimming pool.  In a state where drowning is the leading cause of death among toddlers, the odds were in their favor.

Tragically, Florida consistently has the highest unintentional drowning rate for children between the ages of 1 and 4.  Such drownings usually occur in swimming pools and beaches, where inattentive parents, caregivers, or lifeguards are negligent in supervising children in the water.  Even plastic kiddie pools and bathtubs can be deadly if children are left unattended.

During this unusually hot Florida summer, people are flocking to public and private pools as well as beaches to seek respite from the scorching temperatures.  Thus, the risk of accidental drowning is significant in crowded conditions, where it becomes far more difficult to watch children in the water.

In an effort to raise awareness and prevent accidental drownings, the Florida Office of Injury Prevention began a public outreach campaign in 2006 called “Keep Your Eyes on the Kids.”  The program has been implemented in Orange County and several other counties in Florida where the rate of accidental drownings is particularly high.  By 2009, the program had helped reduce the number of children ages 1 to 4 who drowned by15% and the drowning rate by 18%.

At Perenich The Law Firm, our drowning accident attorneys have more than 60 years of combined experience in holding those responsible for the unimaginable, tragic, and highly preventable death of a child due to drowning.  Our offices are conveniently located throughout the Tampa Bay, Florida area, including Clearwater,  St. Petersburg, Tampa, Tarpon Springs, and New Port Richey.