In May of 2018, Sen. Tony Hwang joined the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation in its effort to raise awareness about water safety. May was Water Safety Awareness Month, but Summer is still in full swing and as families enjoy their time by the pool and trips to local beaches, Senator Hwang and the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation are reminding parents and caregivers to remain alert when watching children around the water.
Through the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation, the Leonard family continues to honor the passing of their toddler son in a drowning accident more than 25 years ago; Stew Leonard Jr., President and CEO of Stew Leonard’s, and his wife Kim have pledged to help prevent this tragedy from occurring to other families.
“Water safety is incredibly important to keep in mind, especially during these hot summer months when families look for ways to cool down. It’s also important to realize that some children, like those on the autism spectrum and ethnic minority groups, are at a higher risk of drowning. Studies show that children from minority families are two to four times more likely to be victims of drowning and drowning is also the number one cause of premature death for children with autism.”
The Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation’s Stewie the Duck Learns to Swim book has been used to support drowning prevention and water safety programs by fire departments, children’s hospitals, and police stations throughout the nation. For more information, please visit www.stewietheduck.com.
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