Florida Child Drowning Trends

Every number on this page is a child. The Live Like Jake Foundation has tracked child drowning incidents across Florida since 2009 to show where the risk is greatest — and where prevention works.

1,519Children lost since 2009
82%Were under 5 years old
63%Happened in a swimming pool
65Florida counties affected
About 2026: this year is still in progress — figures cover January through July only, so the 2026 bar is not comparable to completed years and is shown in a different color.

Incidents per year

2009–2026 · 1,519 incidents tracked
Complete yearYear in progress
0204060801001202009’11’13’15’17’19’21’23120’2573
0204060801001202009’13’17’21120’2573

The last five complete years averaged 102 incidents a year, 35% higher than the five years before them (76). 2025 was the highest year on record with 120.

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Year Incidents
2009 76
2010 92
2011 73
2012 80
2013 80
2014 73
2015 85
2016 74
2017 82
2018 88
2019 65
2020 69
2021 98
2022 92
2023 94
2024 105
2025 120
2026 (partial) 73

Age of the child

1,421 incidents where the child’s age was recorded
02004006008001000120081Under 16%10861-476%2115-915%3310-142%1015-171%
02004006008001000120081Under 16%10861-476%2115-915%3310-142%1015-171%

82% of the children were under 5, and 1–4 year olds alone account for 76% of every incident tracked. This is the age where self-rescue swim training matters most.

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Age group Incidents
Under 1 yrs 81
1-4 yrs 1,086
5-9 yrs 211
10-14 yrs 33
15-17 yrs 10

Where it happened

1,470 incidents where the type of water was recorded
Pool933 (63%)Natural water351 (24%)Bathtub111 (8%)Other75 (5%)
Pool63%Natural water24%Bathtub8%Other5%

Nearly two out of three happened in a swimming pool. Pool fencing, door alarms and self-rescue training target exactly this risk. Bathtubs and natural water — ponds, lakes, canals — make up most of the rest.

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Type of water Incidents
Pool 933
Natural water 351
Bathtub 111
Other 75

When it happened

All incidents by month, 2009–present combined
050100150200JanFebMarAprMay188JunJulAugSepOctNovDec
050100150200JFMAM188JJASOND

57% of incidents happen between March and July. Risk climbs as soon as the weather warms — well before summer break — which is why swim lessons should start in late winter, not in June.

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Month Incidents
January 77
February 62
March 119
April 152
May 160
June 188
July 184
August 114
September 104
October 106
November 98
December 57

Counties with the most incidents

Top 10 of 65 Florida counties, 2009–present
Broward140Orange107Polk102Hillsborough98Osceola84Miami-Dade82Palm Beach77Duval74Lee55Brevard49
Broward140Orange107Polk102Hillsborough98Osceola84Miami-Dade82Palm Beach77Duval74Lee55Brevard49

County totals reflect both risk and population size — larger counties naturally see more incidents.

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County Incidents
Broward 140
Orange 107
Polk 102
Hillsborough 98
Osceola 84
Miami-Dade 82
Palm Beach 77
Duval 74
Lee 55
Brevard 49

Source: Live Like Jake Foundation incident tracking, compiled from public reports across Florida since 2009. Counts reflect incidents known to the foundation and may differ from state vital-statistics totals. Last updated through July 2026.