ORLANDO, FL (May 15, 2025) – Today, in recognition of International Water Safety Day and as part of Water Safety Month, free swimming lessons are now available for Orange County residents at the Rosen Aquatic & Fitness Center (RAFC). This is the second year these free lessons have been offered and this year’s effort adds the support of Truist Foundation to the RAFC and Florida Department of Health in Orange County (FDOH-Orange) collaboration. This support is already having an impact on participation.

As part of the Every Child a Swimmer (ECAS) program, the FDOH-Orange sponsors a series of swimming lessons for beginners ages 6 months to 12 years. In addition to the swimming lessons, the program also offers lifeguard and water safety instructor courses. Truist Foundation recently awarded a grant to the RAFC to assist families who are not only in need of the free swim lessons, but who are also in need of transportation to get to and from these lessons. This transportation grant provides ride-share vouchers to participants. To date, program attendance by families using this service is an astounding 100%.

According to the FDOH, drowning is the leading cause of preventable death in
children 1–4 years of age in Florida. In an effort to combat the rising number, the department selected the RAFC as the host pool for the sessions which are now underway and continue through the summer months.

“Teaching others to swim, especially children, is at the core of what we do here at the Rosen Aquatic & Fitness Center and our main priority is to provide a safe learning environment to do so,” said Mike Miller, Executive Director of the RAFC. “The Florida Department of Health in Orange County is a tremendous partner for us and now thanks to Truist Foundation and its transportation grant, we’re seeing the number of participants increase dramatically.”

“Our purpose at Truist is to inspire and build better lives and communities, so we’re proud to have our foundation partner with Rosen Aquatic & Fitness Center to help provide free swim lessons for Orange County residents,” said Steve Fisher, Truist regional president of the Florida North market.

With the summer months approaching, the lure of a pool is even more enticing. Dr. Robert Karch, director of the Florida Department of Health in Orange County and pediatrician says there are three things you can do right now to keep children as safe as possible:

• Adult Supervision: Proper adult supervision around water is critical. Whether at a backyard pool, a hotel or resort, or at the beach, always have an attentive adult whose job it is to keep an eye on the kids at all times.
• Install Pool Fencing: Most childhood drowning injuries and deaths occur when children are not expected to be near the water, so install pool fencing with self-latching gates. Lock all doors leading to the pool area and use door and pool alarm systems. Never leave an infant or toddler in a bathtub, not even for a second.
• Take Water Safety Courses: Learn CPR and enroll infants, toddlers, and children in high-quality swimming classes.

“Our goal for the swim classes is that every child in Florida is a swimmer and has the necessary water survival skills to prevent death or injury due to drowning,” said Dr. Karch.

To learn more about the Every Child a Swimmer program in Orange County and to register for free swimming classes, if eligible, please visit the Florida Department of Health in Orange County website at orange.floridahealth.gov.

The Rosen Aquatic & Fitness Center is located at 8422 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819.

Media inquiries should be directed to publicrelations@rosenhotels.com.