Pinellas County officials and local doctors are warning families to step up water safety after a worrying rise in child drownings and near drownings. Local first responders say the county logged dozens of pediatric submersions last year and are using National Water Safety Month to hammer home prevention. The push comes alongside wrenching accounts from parents whose children survived but were left with life‑changing injuries.
By the numbers
According to FOX 13 Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg Fire Rescue recorded 25 pediatric water submersions in 2025, three of them fatal. First responders told reporters that drownings and submersions can unfold in a matter of seconds when a caregiver glances away. The tally has triggered a coordinated effort between Pinellas County and city agencies to ramp up public education and prevention programs.
A child's life altered
At a recent press conference, mother Shakilya Lewis recounted how her son BJ was under water for roughly four to seven minutes before relatives pulled him from a pool. Doctors initially gave him only a 3% chance of making it through the night. He later was diagnosed with an anoxic brain injury, is nonverbal, G‑tube fed and needs round‑the‑clock care, Lewis told FOX 13 Tampa Bay. She said what happened to her family is driving the renewed focus on swim lessons, physical barriers and CPR training.
Doctors urge 'layers of protection'
Medical staff and injury prevention advocates say families should build in multiple layers of protection: formal swim lessons, four‑sided pool fences with self‑latching gates, alarms on doors that lead to pools and a designated “water watcher” whenever children are near water. Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital recommends those same steps and notes that swim lessons reduce risk but do not make any child “drowning proof.” National data show drowning is the leading cause of injury death for children ages 1 to 4 in the United States, according to the CDC.
Where to find lessons and help
Families looking for classes or financial assistance can find swim lessons through St. Pete Parks & Recreation and statewide programs like WaterSmartFL, which the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County promotes to expand access to lessons. Local hospitals, schools and community organizations also advertise CPR trainings and water‑watcher outreach before summer, and officials say simple steps such as closing doors to pool areas and staying off phones while supervising children can save lives.
First responders emphasize that the message is not meant to terrify parents but to change everyday habits: assign a water watcher, learn CPR and make your home as safe as possible around water. For more information on local lessons and safety tips, check your parks department, county health resources and Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital water safety guidance.
