Clearwater fire officials giving free life vests to children

It’s spring break for many, which means families will be heading to the beach. 

The Florida Suncoast Safe Kids Coalition teamed up with the Clearwater Fire and Rescue Department to provide free children’s life vests on Monday morning. 

According to the Florida Health Department, Florida leads the state in drownings death for children ages 1 to 4. Health officials said there are enough children under the age of 5 drown in Florida to fill three to four classrooms. 

In 2013, Florida saw 285 hospitalizations for non-fatal drownings. Over a third of those drownings were among children, ages 1-4, and 14 percent of fatal drownings in 2013 were among children in that age group. 

Volunteers and Clearwater Fire and Rescue officials will be handing out free life vests and supplying water safety info starting at 10 a.m., at Fire Station 46, located at 536 Mandalay Avenue.

LINK: For more water safety tips, visit www.safekids.org/watersafety