What's The No. Few would guess the actual culprit - drowning. Surrounded by water and bathed in warm sun, Florida is a haven for water babies of all ages. Unfortunately, for the youngest Floridians who are not yet swimmers and who are not constantly supervised, Florida's ocean, lakes, ponds, and pools can turn deadly in a matter of seconds. For every child that dies from drowning each year, another three are likely to suffer permanent and profound brain damage as a result of oxygen deprivation from near drowning.
Supervision is the key.
Never leave a young child unsupervised near a body of water, no matter small or shallow the water might be. Experts say that children don't reach the optimal developmental stage for swimming skills until around age 4. Even so, swimming skills are not a substitute for good supervision and taking proper safety precautions. In St. Johns County, a 4-foot barrier or fence is required around new private pools to prevent entry from the outside. Self-closing and latching gates, or a removable ladder for above ground pools, are also required.