JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Memorial Day weekend is considered a peak time for drownings and other water-related accidents.
Data shows drowning is still the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 nationwide.
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News4Jax spoke with a swim school about important tips to keep children safe in water.
A child can drown in as little as 20 seconds.
It can happen in a pool, a bathtub, or even a retention pond when least expected.
Goldfish Swim School on County Road 210 in St. Johns County teaches kids to swim and survive in water as early as possible.
It was co-founded by Katy and Pat Murphy and their son, Olympic gold medalist and world champion swimmer Ryan Murphy.
MORE | Ryan Murphy, 9x Olympic medalist and Jacksonville native, opens swim school in St. Johns County
The program teaches children as young as four months old, focusing on life-saving skills like floating, breath control, and wading water.
Florida ranks 4th in the U.S. for unintentional drowning deaths among all ages, according to the CDC.
Experts recommend:
- Teaching children basic swimming and water safety skills
- Building fences around pools
- Close supervision of children at all times
- And learning CPR
Around this time last year, the state reported 46 child drownings most of them happening in swimming pools during non-swim times.
