The Volusia County government will be distributing free door and pool-motion alarms this week, as detailed in a statement released by the City of Deltona on Wednesday. The initiative is aimed at reducing the dangers of children approaching swimming pools unsupervised.
Recipients will get a four-pack of window/door alarms which create a sound when a door or window leading to a pool is opened, and pool alarms that do the same when something breaks the surface of the water. If used properly, the alarms can prevent tragic drownings among children who fall into the pools accidentally.
The distribution will take place starting at 9:00 am on Friday, across six different locations in Volusia County. All that's required of those picking up an alarm is that they're over 18 years old and willing to fill out the requisite paperwork.
Those attending are also asked to bring proof of residency, such as a driver's license, mortgage papers, rental lease, or a utility bill. The person picking the alarm up must be a resident of the house in which the alarm is to be used. The alarms will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis, with no reservations or appointments being taken.
The locations distributing the alarms are as follows:
Over a period spanning from 2019 to 2021, Florida had the highest rate in the nation of children ages one to four drowning in swimming pools according to the Florida Department of Health (DOH) at a rate of 6.64 per 100,000. It also paced the nation in accidental drownings from children ages zero to nine according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), at a rate of 3.25 per 100,000.
Additionally, WaterSmartFL advises families with kids and a pool to consider safety measures such as child-proof locks, pool safety fences, self-closing gates, and pool safety covers.
The Volusia County Council approved this newest initiative at its May 21st business meeting, citing additional data that accidental drownings are the leading cause of death among children ages one to four in Florida.
To further combat the issue, the County Council authorized funding for free or reduced-rate swimming lessons for income-eligible children from the Volusia Flagler Family YMCA and the Daytona Beach Parks and Recreation Department. Parents interested in taking advantage of those programs are advised to contact those organizations.
