60 people have drowned in Florida so far in 2024. Here's what officials are doing about it

At a pool in Monroe County, Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez stressed the importance of swimming safety while highlighting a new state initiative to curb drowning deaths of children.

"More than ever, we want to make sure that we bring awareness to water safety and drowning prevention," Nuñez said on Tuesday.

This April, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that allocates $500,000 for free swimming lessons for low-income families with children 4 and under.

The "Swimming Lesson Voucher Program" (SB 544) requires the Florida Department of Health to create a program to establish a network of swimming lesson instructors in each county and offer vouchers for free swimming lessons to low-income families.

Nuñez, Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and others stressed safe swimming, not just in pools, but also at the state's beaches.

There's been a recent rash of deaths in the Florida Panhandle during red flag warnings this summer. Rip tides and fierce water conditions have caused seven deaths in Panama City and the surrounding beaches.

There have been 60 drownings in Florida so far this year, Nuñez said. And drownings are the top cause of death for children aged 1 to 4.

To learn more

• For more information about swimming safety and the voucher program, visit www.watersmartfl.com.

Ana Goñi-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network – Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com. 

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida sees 60 drowning deaths so far in 2024; safe swimming stressed