Making Waves for Safety
Watermelon Swim & St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation Partner to Prevent Childhood Drownings Across Tampa Bay
Drowning remains the leading cause of injury-related death for children under 5, and experts warn that incidents are on the rise across Tampa Bay.
In response, Watermelon Swim and St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation have united to promote water safety and drowning prevention throughout the community.
Each May, Watermelon Swim amplifies their mission during National Water Safety Month, a public service initiative reminding families that drownings are preventable, and that vigilance around swim safety is non-negotiable.
Through this new partnership, Watermelon Swim and St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation will provide life-saving water safety education for families. Together, they aim to change the mindset that swimming is a seasonal activity; because swimming is a year-round safety skill, just as essential as car seats and bike helmets.
Ahead of Water Safety Month, we sat down with Watermelon Swim CEO Micha Seal, St Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation Vice President Nora Gunn and Dr. Tara Smith, pediatric intensivist at BayCare to discuss all things water safety and drowning prevention.
Micha Seal, Owner and CEO, Watermelon Swim
Tell us about Watermelon Swim’s mission and why it is so important to teach survival skills to a young child.
Micha Seal: Our mission is to grow a community full of safer swimmers and reduce the risks while increasing confidence in and around water.
In Florida, water isn’t a luxury; it’s part of our everyday lives. That’s exactly why survival skills have to start young. This isn’t just about learning how to swim; it’s about giving children the ability to respond in a moment that truly matters. We know that formal, continuous swim lessons reduce the risk of drowning by 88%, and that’s powerful. That’s the difference between panic and confidence, between risk and readiness.
How does your approach differ from other programs?
Micha Seal: Where we really differ is in our commitment to year-round learning. Survival skills are critical, but they’re just the starting point. Without consistent practice, those skills can fade, especially for young children. Year-round lessons allow us to reinforce and build on those foundations so that responses become automatic, not something a child has to think through in a moment of stress.
We use a time-tested, level-based curriculum that integrates swimming, safety and survival into every lesson. Children aren’t just learning skills; they’re learning how to use them.
For over 50 years, Watermelon Swim has taught millions of lessons to generations of swimmers. While we’d love for families to swim with us, what matters most is that every child learns, wherever that may be. Swim lessons truly save lives.
What can families do to stay safer?
Micha Seal: We teach families to think in layers with our “Ring of Safety.” There’s no single solution; real safety comes from combining active supervision, swim lessons, pool barriers and CPR readiness. When those layers work together, they create a much stronger level of protection and significantly reduce drowning risk.
What inspired this partnership with the hospital and its foundation?
Micha Seal: It really comes down to alignment. Water safety is a critical part of child health and injury prevention, and that’s something we both care deeply about. Partnering with St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation allows us to reach more families through a trusted healthcare voice and expand the impact we can make together.
How does this partnership support your mission?
Micha Seal: Together, we amplify our message through education, shared resources and outreach, reaching families who might not otherwise have access. By uniting swim safety expertise with healthcare professionals, we reinforce a critical truth: Drowning is preventable with the right tools and awareness.
Dr. Tara Smith, Pediatric Intensivist at BayCare
Can you talk to us about the drowning crisis here in Tampa Bay? What trends or concerns are you seeing locally?
Tara Smith: Unfortunately, drownings and submersion injuries are far more common than many families realize, especially in communities like ours where pools, lakes and beaches are part of everyday life. Drowning is still the leading cause of injury-related death for children under 5. In the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, we see a real increase during warmer months, and many of these cases involve very young children.
When you talk to families, what do they say went wrong — and what can other families learn from it?
Tara Smith: Almost every family tells us the same thing: it happened quietly and quickly. A gate was left open, someone thought another adult was watching, or a child slipped away unnoticed. What’s important to know is that drownings don’t just happen in pools. About 40 percent of drowning deaths in children ages 5 to 14 happen in natural water. The biggest takeaway is that constant, focused supervision and water safety layers, like lessons and barriers, really do matter.
How does partnering with a swim school enhance your ability to reach families?
Tara Smith: As physicians, we see the consequences when safety measures fail, but swim education reaches families before a tragedy happens. Partnering together allows us to combine medical expertise with practical, hands-on education, helping parents build safer habits long before an emergency ever reaches the hospital
Nora Gunn, Vice President, St. Joseph's Children's Hospital Foundation
Why is water safety an important initiative for the foundation?
Nora Gunn: So much of what we do at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital is about caring for children in their most critical moments, but we also believe deeply in prevention. Water safety is one of those areas where education and awareness can truly save lives. As a children’s hospital supported by a generous community, we feel called to step in early, help families understand the risks, and support efforts that keep kids safe long before they ever need our care.
What role does the foundation play in bringing partnerships like this to life?
Nora Gunn: Our role is really about connection. We see firsthand the impact of preventable injuries, and we also see the incredible generosity and heart of this community. By engaging medical experts, trusted community partners and philanthropic support, we can help turn shared concern into meaningful action.
What message do you hope parents take away from this partnership?
Nora Gunn: I hope parents feel encouraged and supported. Our community is investing in children’s safety and health and surrounding families with resources, education and support to help keep kids safe.
Do you have any additional thoughts to share?
Nora Gunn: St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation brings our community together to advance care and provide support for the thousands of children we serve across West Central Florida and beyond. Every partnership, every act of generosity, helps empower more tomorrows for kids who are counting on us.
Watermelon Swim has been serving families in Greater Tampa Bay for over 50 years with locations in Lutz, South Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Riverview and Brooksville, with locations in Brandon and Zephyrhills coming soon. To learn more about safety and survival swim lessons, as well as their free water safety education programs, visit watermelonswim.com.
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*Presented by Watermelon Swim | Originally published in the May 2026 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine