HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2015-055 - Support & Encourage the Collective Efforts of Municipalities Through the ''#Saferby4'' Initiative to Reduce Preventable Child Deaths Due to Drowning & Sleep Habits RESOLUTION NO. 2015-055
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA,
SUPPORTING AND ENCOURAGING THE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS OF
MUNICIPALITIES THROUGH THE "#SAFERBY4" INITIATIVE TO
REDUCE PREVENTABLE CHILD DEATHS DUE TO DROWNING AND
SLEEP HABITS; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; FURTHER, PROVIDING
FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, recent changes to the Florida Statutes now allow the Florida Department of
Children and Families to broadly share child fatality information, which is useful in informing
and educating communities about causes of child deaths; and
WHEREAS, over 200 child deaths have been reported to the Department of Children
and Families in Broward County over the last five years, which is an average of one death every
ten days; and
WHEREAS, nearly half of all child fatalities reported to the Department of Children and
Families resulted from drowning and accidental suffocation or strangulation from an unsafe sleep
environment; and
WHEREAS, the most prevalent cause of death of children under one year of age was
accidental suffocation or strangulation from an unsafe sleep environment; and
WHEREAS, 77% of the Broward County children who died in the last five years were
ages 3 and under; and
WHEREAS, information and education can greatly contribute to preventing deaths from
drowning and unsafe sleep; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Children and Families is working together with the
Children's Services Council of Broward, the Florida Department of Health in Broward County,
Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies, and other organizations to inform and educate families about
actions and steps to prevent child fatalities; and
WHEREAS, as part of their overall prevention strategy, the Department of Children and
Families is requesting the assistance of all Broward County municipalities in reducing, and
working towards eliminating, these preventable tragedies to safely get young children to their
fourth birthday and beyond; and
WHEREAS, the "#SaferBy4" initiative was established to raise awareness, and to assist,
inform and educate families and municipalities about strategies and steps to prevent child
fatalities; and
WHEREAS, first responders play a role in identifying high risk environments and
providing educational opportunities to avert preventable child deaths due to drowning and unsafe
sleep habits; and
WHEREAS, strategies include providing "DOSE" ("direct on scene education") training
for all Broward County first responders; increasing funding for swimming and pool safety
instruction which is currently available for school aged children attending elementary schools
participating in the Swim Central program to children from six months old to four (4) years old;
securing community and organization support to provide a safe sleeping area for infants
including cribs; and evaluating each municipality's risk reduction efforts through engineering,
education, and enforcement; and
WHEREAS, municipalities, through their ability to communicate to their residents, civic
associations, interfaith communities and other organizations as well as the ability to coordinate
resources, must take a leadership role in the #SaferBy4" initiative to include collaboration on
innovative educational and prevention strategies and sharing "best practices" for reducing
preventable child deaths due to drowning and unsafe sleep habits; and
WHEREAS, as part of the overall prevention strategy, all municipalities have been asked
to take the pledge to become "#SaferBy4"communities in Broward County;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF DANIA BEACH,FLORIDA:
Section 1. The foregoing "WHEREAS" clauses are ratified as true and correct and
they are incorporated by this reference.
Section 2. The City of Dania Beach fully supports the"#SaferBy4" initiative.
Section 3. The City of Dania Beach encourages health care institutions,
municipalities, and all first responders, to support the "#SaferBy4" initiative and to collaborate
on strategies aimed at reducing, and working toward eliminating, preventable child deaths due to
drowning and unsafe sleep habits.
Section 4. The City Clerk is directed to distribute a copy of this Resolution to each
Broward County Mayor and municipality's governing body, the Broward Chiefs of Police
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Association, the Broward Fire Chiefs Association and the Broward County Board of County
Commissioners.
Section 5. That this Resolution shall be in force and take effect immediately upon its
passage and adoption.
PASSED and ADOPTED May 26, 2015.
ATTEST:
LOUISE STILSON, CMC A. ALVINO SR.
CITY CLERK AYOR
APPROVED TO ORM AND CORRECTNESS:
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THOMAS J. ANSBRO
CITY ATTORNEY
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