Welcome to the Florida Swims Foundation, a dedicated force in providing swim safety and education across Florida through community-focused initiatives and partnerships. Your support helps us fund swimming lessons and educational scholarships, ensuring a safer and more informed community.
Click the image for resources, to request assistance, or to donate.
EVERY DAY IMPACT
Every day, the Florida Swims Foundation helps children across Florida gain access to vital swimming lessons and water safety education. Our numbers tell a story of lives changed, skills learned, and communities strengthened. In 2023 alone, we accomplished the following!
$200,000+
Funds Raised
11,045
LESSONS PROVIDED
3,892
CHILDREN IMPACTED
SAVING LIVES, ONE PLATE AT A TIME.
You can provide a child with life-changing swim lessons. According to the CDC, drowning is the number one cause of death for Florida children ages 1-4.
“First-year-free” plates are all gone but our mission is still going strong! Purchase your plate pre-order voucher and teach a kid to swim!
The plate is in production and we hope it will be available to the public to pick up in January.
Swim Lessons
The first step to being safe around water is learning to swim! Florida Swims Foundation works with Every Child a Swimmer and Step Into Swim to fund grants to swim schools throughout Florida. When you make a donation you can mark which organization you would like to utilize the money. Step Into Swim guarantees the funds will be matched to offer even more life-saving lessons!
You can utilize their websites to find swim lesson providers near you and ones with funds for free lessons.
Step Into Swim: https://www.stepintoswim.org/get-involved/apply/
Every Child A Swimmer: https://everychildaswimmer.org/swim-lesson-providers/
The Florida Swimming Pool Association does not endorse any of these organizations. Other public pools and organizations in your area may also offer swimming lessons.
Support free swim lessons for children by donating to the Florida Swims Foundation by clicking the “Donate Now” button below.”
Florida Swims High School Swim Meet
The Florida Swims High School Swim Meet is one of the most exciting events that the Florida Swimming Pool Association supports. The meet is sanctioned by the Florida High School Athletics Association (FHSAA) and observed by USA Swimming. All proceeds from the swim meet go directly to the Florida Swims Foundation, our 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Scholarships
The Margaret M. Brown Scholarship Fund of the Florida Swimming Pool Association is available to dependents of owners and employees of member companies. This program helps members meet the high cost of college expenses for their children. The award is presented by the Florida Swims Foundation.
Students at all levels of post-secondary education are eligible for merit scholarships based on academic accomplishment, extracurricular activities, contributions to their community and a research paper on a pool industry related topic. In its 35 year history, has awarded more than $875,000 in scholarships.
ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP STRIDE EVENT
The annual Scholarship Stride will raise funds for the FSPA Scholarship program. Sponsor this year’s Scholarship Stride! Participant registration is through the Everything Under the Sun Expo registration. To sponsor this event contact FSPA at 941-952-9293.
The annual Scholarship Stride will raise funds for the FSPA Margaret M Brown Scholarship Fund and is in memory of FSPA Past President Brian Kelly.
Participant registration is through the Everything Under the Sun Expo registration.
Raise money for the FSPA’s Margaret M. Brown Scholarship Fund while getting your steps!
Attendee participation is FREE and a $25 donation gets attendees the Scholarship Stride T-shirt!
Participants must visit booth 1009 to pick up an exhibitor card and visit booths throughout the hall to gather stickers. Return the completed card to be entered into drawings for prizes!(Must register to attend the Expo at www.UnderTheSunExpo.com)
Get Involved
Be a part of a community that changes lives through the power of swimming. The Florida Swims Foundation offers various opportunities for you to get involved, whether as a volunteer, donor, or partner. By joining us, you contribute to spreading water safety education and providing swim lessons to children across Florida. Every helping hand brings us closer to our goal of ensuring every child has the opportunity to learn to swim.
Donate
When you donate to the Florida Swims Foundation, you’re not just giving funds; you’re giving the gift of safety, confidence, and joy to children across Florida. Your support helps us provide crucial swimming lessons and water safety education, essential skills that save lives and build a safer community.
SAFETY MATTERS
DRAINS
The Federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act requires public pools to have approved drain covers installed and one other feature (there are several options) to prevent entrapment. Florida law is more restrictive and requires a gravity drainage system.
Circulation / Suction Entrapment and Pool Drain Safety
When using any swimming pool:
- If any drain cover is broken or missing, do not enter
or allow anyone else to enter the pool. Notify the pool owner or call your pool professional immediately to make necessary repairs. - Do not allow anyone, child or adult, to play with or sit on any suction outlet (drain) or wall vacuum fittings!
- Pull long hair back into a ponytail or a bathing cap.
- Remove jewelry before entering the pool.
To ensure your pool is safe:
- Ask a licensed professional to inspect all suction outlets. Ask that drain covers be ANSI/APSP-16 certified and wall vacuum fittings be self closing/self latching.
- Replace any broken covers, missing covers or uncertified covers with ANSI/APSP-16 certified drain covers.
- Have a licensed pool professional inspect your pool. If it has a single drain, retrofit it in accordance with the ANSI/APSP-16 standard. Options include converting the drain to a single unblockable suction outlet or installing a cover/grate certified to the ANSI/APSP-16 standard and at least one of the following: an additional suction outlet(s), gravity flow system, vent system, safety vacuum release system (SVRS), converted suction outlet to return inlet, and/or disable the suction outlet and provide a skimmer capable of the full system flow.
- Post a list of rules and require anyone entering the pool to read the rules. Remind everyone not to play with drains.
- Periodically have a licensed professional evaluate and, if necessary, maintain all drains and outlets.
When you have a pool built:
- Speak with the pool company to ensure they are knowledgeable on suction entrapment and will build your pool to the ANSI/ APSP 7 standard as required by the Florida Building Code.
- Only use a properly licensed company.
- Discuss and understand your circulation, drain and drain cover options.
- The federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act requires say that as of Dec. 20, 2008 only ANSI/APSP-16 drain covers can be sold in the U.S. Request only ANSI/APSP-16 certified covers be installed.
Types of circulation / suction entrapment:
- Hair: Hair entrapment occurs when a person’s hair becomes entangled in a drain cover and can’t be pulled free. 28.7% of cases.*
- Limb: Limb entrapment occurs when an arm or leg becomes stuck in a drain. The cover must be broken or missing for this to occur, but it does not require suction. 25.6% of cases.*
- Body: Body entrapment occurs when a drain is completely covered by any part of a person’s body and suction holds them in place. 29.8% of cases.*
- Evisceration / Disembowelment: This occurs when someone sits on a drain that has suction, and a broken or missing cover, and injuries or disembowelment occurs. This can occur in a fraction of a second. 3.1% of cases.*
- Mechanical: Mechanical entrapment occurs when an item on the person becomes entangled or stuck on a drain or drain cover (i.e. jewelry, bathing suit). 5.6% of cases.*
*Information was provided by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Percentages were calculated based on the 195 cases reported to the CPSC for 1985-2007. In the remaining 7.2% of cases, the type of entrapment is unknown.
For more information visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Or click here to see how you can “Pool Safely”.
Recreational WATER ILLNESS
Recreational Water Illness (RWI) is an illness caused by germs and chemicals which can be found in water we swim in.
RWI’s can be a wide variety of infections – skin, ear, respiratory, eye, gastro.
A great way to prevent RWI’s is to keep pool water out of your mouth while you are swimming.
Prevent contamination of water by being proactive. Don’t swim or play in a splash park if you have diarrhea . Diarrhea can contaminate a pool requiring it to be closed while the potential germs are dealt with. Showering before entering a pool is also recommended.
Visit the CDC website for more information.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Swimming has great health benefits and is a great aerobic exercise with significantly less impact. Multiple body parts and muscles are used and strengthened at the same time. Aerobic exercise strengthens your heart. Researchers at the University of South Carolina discovered that swimmers had a 50 percent lower death rate than runners, walkers or sedentary men. Swimming can also be calming and meditative.
Swimming laps, playing games and water exercises are all great ways to stay healthy in the pool.You don’t have to swim laps to get exercise in the pool. Try aerobics or playing games!
Every movement in the water is a resistance exercise. You are pushing against the water and resistance is the best way to build up strength and muscle tone.
Individuals with arthritis can exercise with less stress on their joints. It can improve affected joints without worsening symptoms.
Click here to see more on water-based exercise from the CDC.
SWIM LESSONS
The first step to being safe around water is learning to swim! Swimming lessons reduce the risk of drowning by 88%. Below are several organizations that offer swimming lessons. Click each organization to find out about lessons near you.
YMCA – Learn about water safety and find a YMCA near you for swim lessons.
Red Cross – Learn about Red Cross swimming lessons. On the right hand side of the screen click on “local Red Cross chapter” to find lessons near you!
ISR – Infant Swimming Resource. Learn how this method teaches young children self-rescue skills and then enter your ZIP code to find certified instructors near you!
United States Swim School Association – An association of
quality schools devoted to aquatic education for lifelong safety, fun and health. Enter your zip code to find a swim school in your area.
Swim America – The nation’s leading learn to swim school. Click on the “General Public” link and under the FAQs you can search for a location near you.
Swim with Gills – A traveling swim school in Hobe Sound. Lifeguard and other services also available
Miracle Swimming for Adults, Inc. – Miracle Swimming teaches that learning to swim means to overcome fear and become safe, comfortable, and free in deep water; that learning strokes is the choreography of swimming that can happen easily after someone feels at home in deep water.
* The Florida Swimming Pool Association does not endorse any of these organizations. Other public pools and organizations in your area may also offer swimming lessons.
Visit the Swimming Pool Education and Safety Foundation at www.pooleducationandsafety.org to donate money for pool safety and swim lessons.
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Use layers of protection around your pool. This means you have several things in place to keep children from getting to the water.
Use these LAYERS OF PROTECTION for your pool area:
1. Fencing and gates
Mesh fencing should be at least four feet high and have a self closing, self latching gate. All panels should remain in place when the pool is not in use. Fencing should meet the ASTM F 1908 standard
2. Door and gate alarms
Many devices are available that attached to pool/spa access doors and gates that will sound a loud alarm when opened and closed. Placing alarms on sliding doors, windows and all exit doors will alert you to children leaving the house. Alarms should meet the Underwriters Laboratories standard UL 2017 for residential water hazard alarm equipment.
3. Perimeter and motion alarms
Infrared systems sound an alarm when the beam is crossed, and can be installed around the perimeter of a pool or spa. Water motion alarms are placed near or in the water and sound an alarm when the water is disturbed.
4. Latch and locks
Fence gates should have latches that automatically close and latch securely. Windows and doors that open to the pool or spa area should all be equipped with self-latching devices.
5. Safety Covers
Pool covers are available that completely cover the pool or spa, blocking access to water. Insist on a cover that has a label stating that it meets the ASTM F1346 Standard for pool and spa covers.
RULES
Have a designated pool watcher to keep an eye on swimmers at all times.
This should be a responsible adult who will not become distracted. If going inside for any reason, a new watcher should be assigned or everyone should get out of the pool
Never swim alone, this means adults too!
Do not use glass containers around the pool.
Go in at the first sign of thunderstorms.
No running or rough play in or near the pool.
No diving in shallow water and always steer your dive up.
Never stand or play on a pool cover.
Do not play with drains of any kind.
KIDDIE POOLS
Kiddie Pools – these pools can range from little blowup pools to structures that are several feet deep.
Dump the water out of your small kiddie pool after each use and keep
the pool upside down if left outside. Kids can drown in even a small
amount of water.
Pools more than 24” deep must comply with Florida’s barrier law (click here to view)– safety fence, safety pool cover, window and door alarms, etc.
LATEST NEWS
Dive into the most recent developments and exciting announcements from the Florida Swims Foundation. From groundbreaking partnerships to impactful community programs, our news section keeps you updated on how we’re making waves in promoting swim safety and education across Florida.
CONTACT US
Send us a message and we’ll have someone get back to you as soon as possible.
Blue Supplier Members
