Holiday Water Safety: Megan Ferraro Discusses Traveling Risks on FOX 35 Orlando
The ZAC Foundation’s Executive Director Megan Ferraro joined FOX 35 Orlando with anchor Garrett Wymer to discuss the heightened drowning risks families face during holiday travel, particularly when visiting unfamiliar pools at vacation rentals, hotels, and relatives’ homes.
Why Holiday Travel Increases Risk
“When you’re traveling for the holidays, you’re experiencing a sense of relief, a break from your normal routine. You’re letting your hair down, so to speak,” Megan explained. “But it’s important that parents are vigilant when they are around water with their children.”
Holiday gatherings create particularly dangerous conditions: distracted adults cooking and entertaining, children exploring unfamiliar environments, and hosts who may lack proper child safety locks or pool barriers.
Critical Safety Checks Before Kids Enter the Water
During the interview, Megan outlined essential steps families should take before allowing children near any pool:
- Verify there is a four-sided fence around the pool (not just a property fence)
- Check for alarms on doors and windows leading to the pool area
- Assign a designated Water Watcher on 20-minute rotations
- Keep rescue equipment and a phone nearby for emergencies
- At beaches, swim only near lifeguards and check flag warning systems
Talk to Your Kids About Pool Rules
“Talk about the rules around the pool—no going in without an adult, no swimming far away from mom and dad if I don’t know how to swim.”
Megan stressed that families should discuss water safety just like any other area of injury prevention: “We know a red light means stop. Well, a red flag at the beach means stop too.”
Watch Megan’s full interview on FOX 35 Orlando to learn more about keeping your family safe around water during the holidays.