FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 18, 2024

DOH-Monroe Offers Free Swimming Lessons

for Children in Monroe County

Contact:

Jennifer Lefelar, Public Information Officer
Jennifer.Lefelar@FLhealth.gov

305-434-5413

Monroe County, Fla. -- The Florida Department of Health in Monroe County (DOH-Monroe) utilizes grant funding to offer swimming lessons at no cost to students and instructor candidates in an effort to prevent drownings as part of the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Pool Safety Initiative.  

Athletic Director at the College of The Florida Keys Lori Bosco led an initiative alongside her team of certified Water Safety Instructors to train 91 children in grades one through five from schools and camps in the Lower Keys. “It is wonderful to watch the children transition from being afraid of the water to feeling comfortable and eager to learn new skills,” Bosco said. “Seeing their smiles as they learn new skills and incorporate water safety is incredibly rewarding.”

Florida Keys Kids CEO Tana Carson trained 12 adults in the American Red Cross’ Basic Swim Instructor certification course at Jacobs Aquatic Center in Key Largo. This course, considered the gold standard for swim instructors, equips candidates to teach all courses in the Swimming and Water Safety program to all age groups. These newly trained instructors will provide free swim lessons to Monroe County students as part of the Florida Keys Kids program.

“This group of instructor candidates represents a dream team of local leaders, including teachers, business owners, and community volunteers who will be excellent swim instructors. They are ready to go!” Carson said.

“We are excited to provide the funds to help prevent drowning in Monroe County,” said DOH-Monroe Health Officer Dr. Carla Fry, PhD, MSN, RN. “We can offer kids these important swim lessons and train more instructors to promote water safety here in the Florida Keys.” 

For more information about swimming lessons at The College of the Florida Keys, visit CFK.edu/StudentLife/Pool. For information about free swim lessons in the Upper Keys, contact Tana Bleser Carson, at Tana.Carson@gmail.com.

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From left to right: BSI trained instructors - Anna Askins (Teacher, Key Largo School), Alicia-Nicole Archangel (Teacher, Key Largo School), Jennifer Quint (Teacher, Key Largo School), Kathy Caputo (Retired Teacher, Key Largo School), Tana Carson (Instructor, Florida Keys Kids), and Cari Sanders (Owner, Vital Signs). 

Lori Bosco, Athletic Director at CFK and Carla Fry, Health Officer at DOH-Monroe supervise kids from Poinciana Elementary School practice swimming at the CFK pool.

Lori Bosco, Athletic Director at CFK and Carla Fry, Health Officer at DOH-Monroe supervise kids from Poinciana Elementary School practice swimming at the CFK pool.

About the Florida Department of Health

The Department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.  Follow us on X at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit FloridaHealth.gov.