RIVERVIEW, Fla. — A new state program will help parents pay for swim lessons as Florida leads the nation in drowning deaths for children one to four years old.
This week, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new Department of Health program into law, giving vouchers for free swimming lessons for children ages four and younger.
10 Tampa Bay dropped by Watch Me Swim in Riverview and spoke with swim instructor, Kari Bahour as she gave lessons. She's been teaching children four and younger survival swimming skills for nearly 30 years.
“Giving them the skills they need to survive,” Bahour says. “Confidence will follow after that.”
She became passionate about swimming skills for infants and toddlers after her son nearly died from drowning.
“If you have multiple children, you want them all to learn,” grandparent Richard Stanaland said, who was there watching his granddaughter Isla Rayburn learn to swim. "A lot of people can't afford it and this'll help out all the ones that can't.”
The program is only for families who live up to 200% above the poverty line, according to the bill. For parents with two kids, that's around $60,000 a year.
“I think it's awesome,” parent Javit Thekkumkattil said while watching a lesson for his son, Avi. “I think it's great for the state and I hope everyone takes that opportunity.”
Local departments of health plan to identify potential vendors for the lessons. Bahour wants to be a vendor, especially because she believes her method of teaching children four and younger should be included in the voucher program.
“Absolutely, yes,” she says. “We have over 100 students in our scholarship program waiting on funding right now.”
The legislature put half a million dollars from the state budget into the voucher program. The FDH still needs to set how much a voucher would be worth.
Children will no doubt find their way to many of Florida’s beaches, lakes, rivers, ponds and pools this summer; now more parents can find help making sure they're safe when they do.