Agenda 04/28/2026 Item # 4B (Proclamation designating May 2026 as Drowning Prevention Month. To be accepted by Daniel White, Advisory Board Chair, NCH Safe & Healthy Children's Coalition. (2026-866)PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, Florida continues to rank first in the nation for child drowning incidents, with enough
children lost each year to fill three to four preschool classrooms, and in Collier County
drowning remains the leading external cause of death for children 1-4 years old; and
WHEREAS, the NCH Safe & Healthy Children Coalition of Collier County, comprising more than 70
local agencies dedicated to improving child health and prevent injury, remains steadfast in
its mission to reverse these alarming trends; and
WHEREAS, the Coalition has implemented a comprehensive, evidence-based drowning prevention
strategy informed by the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, emphasizing that true
safety requires multiple layers of protection including physical barriers, high quality swim
instruction, effective rescue skills, and CPR training; and
WHEREAS, as a cornerstone of this effort, the Coalition launched SWIM Central in March 2012,
providing critical water safety education and, since its inception, has delivered more than
106,861 lessons to 12,921 children throughout Collier County; and
WHEREAS, in February 2014, the Coalition expanded its prevention initiatives with the “Kids Don’t
Float…Give Them Something That Does” Life Jacket Loaner Program, which now
maintains 18 accessible loaner stations at lakes and beaches across the county, each
stocked with 20 properly fitted life jackets in a variety of sizes; and
WHEREAS, the Coalition welcomed Stewie the Duck, its water-safety mascot, in 2016, engaging
families and young children in fun, memorable, and effective safety education; and
WHEREAS, drowning prevention lays the foundation for a healthy livelong relationship with the water,
supporting physical activity, family recreation, and community well-being;
NOW THEREFORE, be it proclaimed by the Board of County Commissioners of Collier County, Florida,
that May 2026 be designated as
DROWNING PREVENTION MONTH
DONE AND ORDEREDTHIS 28th Day of April 2026.
Board of County Commissioners
Collier County, Florida
Dan Kowal, Chairman