The Brief
- More than 1,200 people drowned across seven Bay Area counties over the past decade, according to Florida Health Charts.
- Tampa is joining hundreds of aquatic facilities across six continents for the 17th Annual World’s Largest Swimming Lesson, a global effort to teach lifesaving swim skills and prevent drowning.
- Experts say formal swim lessons, close supervision and multiple layers of water safety can help prevent drowning, the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 4.
TAMPA, Fla. – More than 1,200 people drowned across the Tampa Bay region over the past decade, according to state health data. As families spend more time at pools, beaches and lakes this summer, the city of Tampa is joining a worldwide movement to teach a skill experts say can save lives.
On Thursday, children at two Tampa pools will take part in the 17th Annual World’s Largest Swimming Lesson, joining participants at hundreds of waterparks, community pools and aquatic facilities across six continents in a synchronized effort to promote water safety and drowning prevention.
Bay Area drowning metrics
By the numbers:
According to Florida Health Charts, 1,209 people drowned across Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, Manatee, Sarasota and Hernando counties over the past decade. Hillsborough County alone recorded 235 unintentional drowning deaths during that period.
Health experts say drowning remains the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 4, making water safety one of the most important conversations families can have before heading to the water.…