Drowning Prevention Week: Free Events to Raise Water Safety Awareness
Every summer, hundreds of thousands of Florida families head to the water. Whether it's the beach, a lake, or a backyard pool, water is part of what makes living here so special.
But it also comes with a heartbreaking reality.
Drowning remains the leading cause of accidental death for children ages 1–4, and Florida consistently ranks among the states with the highest number of child drowning deaths. In recent months we have seen two fatal drownings right here in the Winter Park and Maitland area.
The good news is that many of these tragedies are preventable through education, preparation, supervision, and swim lessons.
That's why the Winter Park Blue Dolfins Foundation is proud to push a new initiative: Drowning Prevention Week, July 18–25. It’s a week of free community events designed to give families the knowledge, skills, and confidence to help keep children safe around water.
A Week Dedicated to Saving Lives
Throughout the week, our community will come together for activities that are educational, interactive, and fun. Whether you're a parent, grandparent, caregiver, teacher, coach, or simply someone who spends time around water, there's something for everyone.
✅ Saturday, July 18: Free Community Swim Lesson
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👉 Join Us at Cady Way Pool 💦
Learning to swim is one of the most important life-saving skills a child can have. Join the Winter Park Blue Dolfins Foundation for a free community swim lesson designed to help children build confidence in the water while learning essential water safety skills.
Led by experienced swim instructors, this introductory lesson will focus on very basic swimming techniques, water comfort, and age-appropriate safety practices. Whether your child is just getting started or needs additional practice, this free event provides a safe and supportive environment to learn.
Space is limited, and advance registration is a must so we know how many instructors to have available.
✅ Sunday, July 19th: The 25 Bubbles Social Media Challenge
👉 Join Us on Social Media 📸
Every swimmer starts somewhere—and for many, that first step is learning how to blow bubbles in the water.
The 25 Bubbles Challenge is a fun and easy way for everyone to participate in Drowning Prevention Week while helping raise awareness about the importance of learning to swim. Simply record a short video of yourself (or your child) blowing 25 bubbles in the water and share it on social media.
Whether you're a competitive swimmer, a beginner, or just young at heart, your video can help spread an important message: learning to swim starts with small steps, and those small steps can save lives.
Be sure to tag the Winter Park Blue Dolfins Foundation @BDWinterPark and challenge your friends and family to join in!
Together, let's fill social media with bubbles—and help make swimming a universal life skill.
Because every child deserves the opportunity to learn this life-saving skill.
✅ Monday, July 20th: Meet & Greet with 5x Olympic Swimmer and World Record Holder Alia Atkinson
👉 Join Us at the Winter Park Health & Wellness Center 📸
Join us for a special opportunity to meet five-time Olympian, world champion, and former world record holder Alia Atkinson, one of the most influential figures in the sport of swimming.
Alia has inspired athletes around the world through her accomplishments in the pool and her commitment to expanding access to swim education and water safety. During this special event, attendees will have the chance to meet Alia, hear about her journey from aspiring swimmer to international champion, and learn why she is passionate about making swimming a universal life skill.
This family-friendly event is designed to inspire swimmers of all ages while highlighting the important role swim lessons and water safety education play in preventing drowning.
Come meet a champion—and help us build a safer community through swimming.
✅ Tuesday, July 21st: Waterproof Your Home
👉 Follow Along on Social Media & Download Your Free Kit 📸
Childhood drownings occur when a child gains unexpected access to water. That's why creating layers of protection around your home is one of the most effective ways to prevent tragedy.
Throughout the day, we’ll be sharing practical water safety tips on social media to help families identify and address potential hazards around their homes. From pool barriers and gate alarms to supervision strategies and emergency preparedness, we'll highlight simple steps that can make a lifesaving difference.
You can also download our free Waterproof Your Home Guide, a comprehensive checklist and resource kit designed to help parents and caregivers evaluate their property and improve water safety at home.
✅ Wednesday, July 22: Prepare for Any Emergency
👉 Join Us on Facebook Live 📸
When an emergency happens, every second counts. Knowing how to respond quickly and confidently can make all the difference.
Join us live on Facebook for an informative and interactive session with TeShondra Abner, athletic trainer and Red Cross-certified instructor, as she shares practical tips to help families prepare for water-related and other common emergencies.
TeShondra will discuss the importance of emergency preparedness, recognizing dangerous situations, creating a family emergency plan, and the critical role that CPR and rescue skills can play when every moment matters. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions and learn simple steps they can take today to be better prepared tomorrow.
Whether you're a parent, caregiver, coach, teacher, or community member, this session will provide valuable knowledge that could help you respond effectively in an emergency.
Join us from the comfort of your home and learn how preparation can help save lives.
✅ Thursday, July 23: Starfish Day
👉 Join Us in Your Own Pool and Follow Along on Social Media 📸
One of the most important skills a swimmer can learn isn't swimming at all—it's floating.
On Starfish Day, we're encouraging swimmers of all ages to hop in the pool and share a photo of themselves (or their child) floating on their back with arms and legs spread wide like a starfish.
Floating is a foundational water safety skill. If a swimmer becomes tired, needs a break, or finds themselves in trouble, the ability to roll onto their back and float can conserve energy, promote calmness, and help keep their airway above the water until assistance arrives. For new swimmers, floating also builds confidence and teaches an important lesson: it's okay to relax in the water.
To participate, simply snap a photo of your best "starfish float" and share it on social media. Be sure to tag the Winter Park Blue Dolfins Foundation and encourage others to join the challenge.
Let's fill our feeds with starfish and spread the message that learning to float is a skill that can help save lives.
✅ Friday, July 24: Take the Water Watcher Pledge
👉 Download Your Pledge Card Now 📸
Drowning is often silent and can happen in seconds. That's why one of the most effective ways to keep children safe around water is to designate a dedicated Water Watcher whenever children are swimming or playing near water.
On Water Watcher Day, we invite parents, grandparents, caregivers, coaches, and community members to take the official Water Watcher Pledge and commit to being fully present when children are near water.
By taking the pledge, you'll join a growing community of families dedicated to preventing drowning through active supervision and water safety awareness. Participants will receive a downloadable Water Watcher badge or card that can be used at pools, beaches, lakes, and backyard gatherings to clearly identify who is responsible for supervision.
It only takes a moment to become distracted—but it only takes a moment to save a life.
Take the pledge. Stay alert. Be a Water Watcher.
✅ Saturday, July 25: World Drowning Prevention Day
👉 Follow Along on Social Media 📸
We’re joining communities around the world in celebrating World Drowning Prevention Day, a global initiative led by the World Health Organization to raise awareness about drowning prevention and water safety.
To mark the occasion, local swimmers will attempt to set a World Record for the most people blowing bubbles at the same time. Since blowing bubbles is often the very first skill new swimmers learn, it's the perfect way to celebrate the importance of swim education and water safety.
Whether you participate in person or from your own pool, help us make a splash, break a record, and spread the message that swimming is a life-saving skill.
Everyone Can Make a Difference
Whether you only attend one event or participate in every activity, you'll be helping spread an important message throughout our community: “Water Means Wait!”
Water safety isn't just something we think about after a tragedy. It's something we can practice every day.
Together, we can create a future where more children learn to swim, more families are prepared, and fewer lives are lost.