Kari Bahour

Kari Bahour is a nationally recognized drowning prevention advocate, author, survival swim expert, and founder of Watch Me Swim and Water Smart Tots Foundation.

With more than 26 years of experience in survival swim instruction and water safety advocacy, Kari has directly taught lifesaving aquatic survival skills to more than 10,000 infants and young children and has trained and mentored over 45 instructors across the United States.

A former ISR Master Instructor, Kari is the author of Swim and Float with Dash the Dolphin and was recognized as a WFLA Remarkable Woman during Women’s History Month for her leadership and impact in child drowning prevention.

Kari currently serves as a water safety representative for Hillsborough County through the Florida Department of Children and Families Child Abuse and Death Review (CADR) Committee and has been invited to participate in statewide drowning prevention initiatives through the Water Smart Florida Task Force in partnership with the Florida Department of Health.

In 2026, Kari helped lead a historic first-of-its-kind partnership between Water Smart Tots Foundation and the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, helping bring publicly funded survival swim lessons to local families throughout Hillsborough County.

Her honors and recognitions include:
• WFLA Remarkable Women Honoree
• Tampa Bay Lightning & AdventHealth Goal Getter
• Bay News 9 Community Hero
• National Drowning Prevention Alliance Community Lifesaver Award
• WEDU/PBS Be More Award
• Super Bowl LV Legacy Microgrant Recipient

Through advocacy, education, media appearances, public speaking, and nonprofit leadership, Kari continues to advocate for stronger drowning prevention policies, survival swim access, and layered water safety protection for children and families nationwide.