FLORIDA – Florida lawmakers this week expanded the state’s swim voucher program, widening the eligible age range to 1 through 7 in an effort to reduce child drownings.
Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death in Florida for children 4 and younger, and supporters said the change will help children retain skills and give more families access to lessons.
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The measure moved through the Florida House with ease and changes the program’s eligibility from children 0 through 4 to those ages 1 through 7.
The Florida Department of Health would be required to develop standardized educational materials on drowning prevention and safe bathing practices, and hospitals, birth centers and home-birth providers would have to include the information in postpartum education.
“Drownings can happen in a matter of seconds. It’s not just about the swim skills that they learn in the moments of the swim lessons. It’s also the confidence they build and the awareness they build when they’re around bodies of water,” Delonyx Cortez, vice president of operations at Winston Family YMCA, said.
According to the Florida Department of Health website, applications for swim vouchers are being accepted now through March 20. The vouchers remain available to families at or below 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines.