FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — A recent string of devastating toddler drownings across the Treasure Coast has renewed public focus on the legal mandates designed to protect young children.
In just the past few weeks, local law enforcement agencies have responded to multiple critical incidents, including a 1-year-old child who drowned in an Indian River County backyard pool, a 20-month-old girl who died after being found submerged in a Port St. Lucie pool, and a 2-year-old who tragically drowned after wandering away from a Fort Pierce home unnoticed. In the wake of these preventable tragedies, state health and legal experts are reminding property owners that pool safety is not just a recommendation; it is the law.
To combat the leading cause of accidental death for young children, the state strictly enforces Florida’s Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act. This legislation requires all newly constructed or remodeled residential swimming pools to feature at least one legally approved safety barrier to block unsupervised access. Homeowners must implement specialized drowning prevention measures, which can include a heavy-duty safety pool cover meeting national ASTM standards, or comprehensive exit alarms installed on all doors and windows that provide direct access from the home to the pool area. Additionally, any doors leading directly from the house to the water must be completely self-closing and self-latching, with the release positioned far out of a young child’s reach…