Miami-Dade pre-K and kindergarten students can receive free swimming and water-safety lessons during the school day through the countywide Zero Drownings Miami-Dade program. Transportation is provided to help families whose children might otherwise miss formal lessons.
The program aims to prevent childhood drownings by teaching children how to respond if they fall into water. Jim O’Connor, chief of the Miami-Dade County Office of Drowning Prevention, said the goal is for a child to turn back toward an edge, reach it and climb out.
Parents described both practical and personal reasons for welcoming the lessons. Claudia Campos said the lack of a fee matters to families, while Brandy Santos said she is glad her daughter Angela is learning to swim because she herself cannot. Christine Carrasquillo said she wanted her daughter Stephanie, who is often around a family member’s pool, to understand the danger of jumping in.
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