Funded Projects

Improving Water Safety in Hollywood Florida

Project Year

2024

City & State

Hollywood, Florida

Program Name

CATCH Resident

Topic

Health Education & Prevention

Program Description

Drowning is a preventable event defined as “the process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion or immersion in liquid (WHO, 2021).” However, drowning is the 2nd leading cause of death in the United Stated, and the 3rd leading cause of death globally, making drowning a global public health crisis (WHO, 2021). Florida leads the nation in drowning, and children of color are at the highest risk. Nationally, about one in five people who die from drowning are children aged 14 years or younger. For every child who dies from drowning, about five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries including severe brain damage, lung damage, cardiac dysfunction, etc. and more than 50% of these patients require hospitalization compared to 6% for all unintentional injuries (Florida Health Charts). These nonfatal drowning injuries may result in long-term disabilities and significant financial and emotional stress on families.   “64% of black, 45% of Hispanic, and 40% of Caucasian children have little or no swimming ability. Formal swimming lessons reduce the likelihood of childhood drowning by 88% (YMCA).” Hollywood, Florida is a city located in Broward County that is home to 7 miles of beach  (About Hollywood). The drowning statistics in South Florida are alarming. From 2009-2018, Broward County had 414 drowning deaths, which is higher than any other county including Miami-Dade, which is more populated but only had 335 deaths (Florida Health Charts).  Our project involves partnering with the YMCA in Hollywood. The YMCA is a nationwide nonprofit organization that helps strengthen individuals and communities through a variety of programs such as aquatics, sports and recreation, youth and teen development, health and wellness, etc (YMCA). The YMCA in Hollywood has a Swim For Jenny event during Spring Break which is open to the entire community of Hollywood, no membership required. The Swim For Jenny event provides swimsuits, swimming lessons, water safety, and CPR training to all ages 6 months and up. The YMCA also has a Mobile Aquatic Van sponsored by Memorial Healthcare System that travels to apartments throughout Hollywood and teaches residents swimming lessons and water safety for a discounted price.   We will assist the YMCA in the Swim For Jenny event as well as assist them with the Mobile Aquatic Van. We will use CATCH grant funds for financial assistance to help families who can’t regularly afford swimming lessons, purchase swimsuits for children in need, provide a children’s book about swimming, and provide water safety tips. To try to find these families, we will use local pediatrician offices, Memorial Healthcare System services, and spread the word on social media.  References: World Health Organization. (2021). Drowning. Who.int; World Health Organization: WHO. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drowning Deaths From Unintentional Drowning. www.flhealthcharts.gov. https://www.flhealthcharts.gov/ChartsDashboards/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=Death.DataViewer&cid=0105 YMCA Greater Hollywood | Gym | Sports | Swim | Preschool. (n.d.). YMCA of South Florida. Retrieved January 15, 2024, from https://ymcasouthflorida.org/location/greater-hollywood-ymca-family-center/ About Hollywood | Hollywood, FL - Official Website. www.hollywoodfl.org. https://www.hollywoodfl.org/696/About-Hollywood

Project Goal

To reduce the rate of deaths from unintentional drowning in children residing in Hollywood. 

Project Objective 1

To increase water safety in Hollywood through educational activities during Swim for Jenny with the YMCA, through the YMCA's Mobile Aquatic Van sponsored by Memorial Healthcare System, and through social media and educational handouts.

Project Objective 2

To increase the number of citizens in Hollywood who know how to swim with swimming lessons.

Project Objective 3

To increase CPR trained individuals in Hollywood. 

AAP District

District X

Institutional Name

Greater Hollywood YMCA Family Center/ Residential areas with Memorial Healthcare System’s Mobile Aquatic Van

Contact 1

Ceanna Perkins, MD

Contact 2

Palack Agrawal, MD