13th Annual Twins Tot Vigil Honors Lives of Children Lost and Promotes Drowning Prevention

The NCH Safe & Healthy Children’s Coalition, in partnership with the Just Against Children Drowning Foundation (JACD), will host the 13th Annual Twins Tot Vigil on Friday, January 9th, 2026, at 5:00pm at Baker Park in Naples. This heartfelt event raises awareness about drowning prevention and offers comfort to families who have experienced the unimaginable loss of a loved one to drowning.

WHAT

The vigil will include a ceremony and a reflective walk to honor:

119 children across Florida who drowned in 2025 – the highest ever recorded, surpassing 2024’s record-setting fatalities

3 children in Collier County who drowned in 2025, and 59 children in Collier County since 2000

13-month-old twins Joshua and Christian, whose tragic drowning in 2010 inspired this annual event

Families impacted by drowning are invited to attend this free and meaningful event.

WHERE

Baker Park – Sunrise Terrace
50 Riverside Drive, Naples, FL, 34102

WHEN

Friday, January 9th, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

WHO (Interview Opportunities) 

The event will feature insights from:

Paul DeMello, Founder, Just Against Children Drowning (JACD)
Paula DiGrigoli, Senior Director, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital at NCH Partnership
Dr. Jim Mahon, Senior Vice President, Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH)
Lieutenant Brian Sawyer, Collier County Sheriff’s Office
Chief Phillip Pennington, City of Naples Fire Rescue
Daniel White, Chair, NCH Safe & Health Children’s Coalition Advisory Board; U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 9-3 Naples
Dr. Salvatore Anzalone, Chief of Pediatrics, Healthcare Network

WHY

Drowning is the leading cause of death in Florida children ages 1-4, according to the Florida Department of Health. Florida continues to have the highest drowning death rate for this age group in the nation.

In 2025, 119 children drowned statewide, surpassing the previous record of 105 in 2024. Locally, 3 children drowned in Collier County in 2025, underscoring that these tragedies can happen anywhere.

Drowning is silent, fast, and preventable. It can happen to anyone, even the most attentive parents, and takes only seconds. Drowning does not discriminate. In Florida’s warm climate, the risk is year-round, often when children aren’t expected to be near water or gain unanticipated access. Multiple layers of protection such as supervision, barriers, and swim lessons are essential to save lives.

Florida is responding with a statewide drowning prevention plan, aligned with the National Water Safety Action Plan focusing on expanding access to swimming lessons, promoting multiple layers of protection, and coordinating education campaigns like WaterSmartFL.

The NCH Safe & Healthy Children’s Coalition actively supports this effort through its local drowning prevention plan which includes:

Education & Awareness: Water Smart Collier campaigns, community events, and multilingual resources to promote layers of protection.

Access to Resources: Connecting families to swimming lessons, life jackets, and door alarms through partnerships with local organizations.

Data Driven Strategies: Tracking local drowning incidents and risk factors to guide targeted interventions.
Policy & Advocacy: Supporting legislation and local ordinances that strengthen water safety requirements.
Collaborative Partnerships: Engaging healthcare providers, schools, childcare centers, and first responders to create a unified approach to prevention.

“Every drowning is a preventable tragedy. It can happen to anyone, but the risk is greatest for children,” said Dr. Salvatore Anzalone, Chief of Pediatrics, Healthcare Network of SW Florida and Board Member of the NCH Safe & Healthy Children’s Coalition. “Parents, please make water safety a priority at home. Supervise children closely around water, install barriers like pool fencing and door alarms, enroll your child in swim lessons, and learn CPR. Every layer of protection matters because we never know which one will prevent a tragedy. Multiple layers of protection save lives.”

About Just Against Children Drowning (JACD)

Founded by Paul J. DeMello after losing his twin 13-month-old boys to drowning, JACD works tirelessly to spread water safety awareness and provide resources like pool fencing and swim lessons to families in need. Visit justagainstchildrendrowning.org for more information.

About the NCH Safe & Healthy Children’s Coalition

The Coalition brings together over 85 agencies and businesses to address child safety issues, focusing on Safe Infant Sleep, Drowning Prevention, and Childhood Obesity Prevention. To learn more about the Coalition, visit safehealthychildren.org, and to learn about our water safety efforts, visit watersmartcollier.com. Bereavement resources are available at https://safehealthychildren.org/grieving-support-1 .