Florida is among the top states with the highest rates of drowning in the United States, a new study revealed.
The Sunshine State ranks No. 5, with an average rate of 2.4 deaths by drowning per 100,000 residents. Meaning there were 2,640 deaths over a five-year period.
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The state's rate of drowning is 54% higher than the national average.
The study was conducted by personal injury attorneys at Fasig Brooks, who analyzed CDC data to calculate the number of drowning deaths in each state over a period of five years.
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| Ranking | State | Average annual deaths by drowning, per 100,000 residents | Total number of deaths by drowning from 2018-2022 |
| 1 | Alaska | 5.3 | 194 |
| 2 | Hawaii | 3.9 | 283 |
| 3 | Montana | 2.7 | 149 |
| 4 | Louisiana | 2.6 | 592 |
| 5 | Florida | 2.4 | 2,640 |
| 6 | Maine | 2.2 | 148 |
| 7 | Arkansas | 2.1 | 324 |
| 8 | Oregon | 2.09 | 442 |
| 9 | Washington | 2.0 | 770 |
| 10 | Mississippi | 1.9 | 287 |
“Many of the other states in this ranking, such as Hawaii and Florida, are home to beaches and resorts which attract a large tourist crowd," an expert from Fasig Brooks said. "Local governments must implement awareness campaigns and safety measures to educate tourists who may be unaware of local water conditions."
In terms of the safest state, Nebraska ranks No. 1, with a low drowning rate of 1 person per 100,000 residents each year.
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Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York also ranked as states with a very low risk of drowning.
In all of 2023, 99 children drowned in Florida, according to the Florida Department of Children and Families.
In July a new state law went into effect, creating a swimming lesson voucher program.
The law, SB 544, passed during this year’s legislative session, requires the state Department of Health to establish a network of swimming lesson providers to participate in the program.
Vouchers will cover the costs of lessons for families with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, which, for instance, would be $60,000 for a family of four.
To be eligible, families will need to have one or more children 4 years old or younger.
