Zero Drownings Miami-Dade wins 2025 NACo Award

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Since fall of 2024, the Drowning Prevention team at Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces (PROS) Department has been hard at work at preventing the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 14 in South Florida, drowning. These staggering numbers are largely due to one of South Florida’s most significant resources, water.

This led to the creation of an innovative, year-round water safety program that offers swim lessons to children throughout Miami-Dade County called Zero Drownings Miami-Dade. The goal of this initiative is simple: provide children from all neighborhoods, abilities, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds the opportunity to learn essential drowning prevention techniques that will make them safer and inspire them to respect and appreciate the water that is a critical part of our community.

Studies have shown that participation in formal swimming lessons reduces the risk of drowning by 88%. Through strategic partnerships with other municipalities, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the American Red Cross, The Children’s Trust, and others, the team is on pace to reach its goal of educating 20,000 children on water safety by 2027.

This program offers select County HeadStart, The Children's Trust funded Thrive by 5 Child-Care centers, along with M-DCPS kindergarten classes at preselected schools, the opportunity to participate in a 10-day program led by certified Water Safety Instructors at public pools near their location.

The Zero Drownings Initiative's resounding success has been recognized by local agencies and residents. It was recently recognized by the National Associations of Counties (NACo) as the Best in Category Winner of the 2025 Achievement Award in the Children and Youth category, edging out 90 other submissions nationwide.

This accomplishment is due in large part to the continued efforts of the Office of Drowning Prevention, which is comprised of Jim O’Connor, Nicole Sugarman, and Sandra Siero.

Keep THRIVING, Drowning Prevention team!

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