PALM BAY, Fla. — Brooke Bothun is a swimming lesson instructor and member of the Florida Swimming Pool Association.

“Seeing the life skill achieved by a young swimmer or a swimmer of any age, it’s incredible, and it brings so much happiness when they are independent and know they are water safe,” Bothun said.

Bothun is now involved in a first ever partnership with Palm Bay Fire Rescue, advocating to promote water safety awareness.

It’s good timing, as May is National Water Safety Month and Gov. Ron DeSantis just signed legislation creating the first swimming lesson voucher program for kids.

It’s for families with children four and under making “less than 200% of the federal poverty level.”

“We hope that brings more acknowledgement to what we are trying to do here, with the safety around water and swimming,” said Asst. Chief John Ringleb of Palm Bay Fire Rescue. “So the scholarships, the funding that’s starting to come down the pipeline, everybody is going to benefit from that.”

The new swimming lesson voucher program goes into effect June 1.

According to the CDC, drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages one to four years old, and the second leading cause for kids ages five to 14.