‘One drowning is too many.’ Miami group expands water safety program for kids

How much would you pay to keep your child safe?

Well, their swimming lessons could be free. Zero Drownings Miami-Dade offers free water safety education and swim lessons for children who may not be able to learn otherwise.

The public-private initiative has been providing transportation and services to selected schools for three years, so elementary students can learn techniques to avoid drowning.

The collaborative movement’s work in prevention — established by the Children’s Trust, South Florida region American Red Cross, the Miami Foundation, United Way Miami, and Miami-Dade County and its public schools — aims for zero deaths by drowning.

Partnering with over a hundred schools and childcare centers, Zero Drownings Miami-Dade has helped over 5,000 children learn 30,000 swim safety lessons.

Following new investments by Bloomberg Philanthropies and Griffin Catalyst, the initiative has announced an expansion of the program to reach more children, including extending services beyond schools to summer camps.

On Thursday, Zero Drownings Miami-Dade showcased the program with a full class of swim students at the county’s Rockway Park Swimming Pool, 9460 SW 27th Dr. The program provides 10 swimming classes through field trips, involving physical lessons, drowning prevention curriculum, and awareness campaigns.

Drowning is the No. 1 cause of accidental deaths for children age 1-14 in Miami-Dade County, with ages 1-4 affected the most nationwide. According to the Journal of Pediatrics, formal swim lessons could reduce the risk of drowning by 88%.

“One drowning is one too many,” said United Way Miami President and CEO Symeria Hudson. Having taken swimming lessons as a child, she added, “I can’t say that I can swim like a fish, but I will say that I received life-saving skills that I carry throughout my adulthood.”

Swimming lessons are not typically cheap, and due to expenses or transportation conflicts, many families struggle to access swimming education for their children.

Zero Drownings Miami-Dade aims to bring in additional schools, pools, lifeguards, trainers, partners and transportation to make swim instruction more accessible.

“This is particularly important in our community where there’s water everywhere,” Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said. “Everywhere. And we need our children to be drown-proofed.”

For mom and teacher at Rockway Middle School Vanesa Roche, that message rings true. Her daughter, Alyssa, is in her first week with the Zero Drownings lessons, and could already showcase her skills at a program demonstration on Thursday.

“She comes home this past three days with stories, and she’s learning a lot,” Roche said. “I feel very fortunate to be a part of the program as a parent.”

Zero Drownings Miami-Dade partners with schools, childcare centers and camps in Miami, Hialeah, Cutler Bay, Homestead, Hialeah Gardens, North Miami, and counting.

“What better place for a kid to be than a pool?” said James Haj, president and CEO of the Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County. “They may not necessarily be Olympic swimmers, but we will prevent drownings, and ... near drownings.”

This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 5:17 PM.