ORLANDO, Fla. – May is National Swim Safety Month and according to the CDC, drowning deaths have surged by an extra 500 per year since 2019.
Drowning is the fourth leading cause of death for children on the autism spectrum as well. That’s why Thursday’s “Breakfast with Bridgett” featured a discussion about water safety with Katie Pabst, director of clinical operations for northwest Florida at Florida Autism Center, where they specialize in supporting and advocating for children with autism.
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Pabst says children with autism are more at risk because of their proneness to wander off as well as a sensory attraction, sometimes, to water. But helping children on the spectrum goes back to a lot of the same basics for all children through prevention, increased awareness and teaching them to swim.
“Constant supervision, staying within arm’s reach, also placing barriers up around bodies of water. Us in Florida, we love our pools, springs and beaches. For children with autism, particularly barriers, locks, pool gates, alarms on pools and doors that lead to water are highly recommended. But definitely swim lessons are one of the more important steps to take,” she said.
Pabst also recommends finding providers who offer swim lessons for kids with special needs.
Watch the full interview at the top of this story and watch more “Breakfast with Bridgett” every weekday at 7:30 a.m. on the News 6 Plus streaming app or ClickOrlando.com.
Learn more about Florida Autism Center by clicking here.
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