Karen Cohn Calls for Florida Water Safety Reform in Powerful Op-Ed

The ZAC Foundation’s co-founder Karen Cohn, alongside American Red Cross’s Connie Harvey, penned a compelling op-ed addressing Florida’s devastating child drowning crisis. Published July 4, 2025, the piece highlights the urgent need for comprehensive water safety reform after Florida recorded its highest-ever number of child drownings in 2024.

The Alarming Reality

The statistics are heartbreaking: 105 children lost to drowning in Florida in 2024 alone—enough to fill up to five preschool classrooms. Karen and Connie emphasize that more than 80% of Florida’s fatal child drownings occur during non-swim time, when children are not expected to be in or near water and are unsupervised. This underscores the critical importance of implementing multiple layers of protection, including isolation fencing, door and window alarms, and clearing pool areas of toys.

A Path Forward

The authors highlight Florida’s groundbreaking initiative to develop the state’s first-ever comprehensive water safety strategy, launching in 2026. Following the framework of the U.S. National Water Safety Action Plan, the strategy will make Florida the fourth state to develop a comprehensive state-specific water safety plan, following California, Hawaii, and New Jersey.

Read Karen and Connie’s full op-ed in the Orlando Sentinel.