Broward Given Largest Pool Safety Grant In Nation
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FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) -- Five county governments have been awarded a first-of-its-kind grant aimed at preventing pool drownings.
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Chairman Elliot F. Kaye and U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (FL-23) announced the national awardees Friday morning.
The money will be used for education, training and enforcement of pool safety requirements intended to save lives and prevent injury.
At $250,000, Broward County received the biggest grant in the country and was one of two Florida counties to be awarded. Lake County was given $155,000.
"Every year, too many children across America drown. Drowning is the #1 cause of unintentional children death to children ages 1-4," said Chairman Kaye. "The funds that we are providing to five great communities will advance our cause to address the terrible deaths and injuries associated with drowning and drain entrapment."
Rep. Wasserman-Schultz helped sponsor the program and said she believes the grants, the first under the Virginia Graeme Baker Act, will save lives.
"We can get there by teaching children to swim, ensuring pools have the right safety equipment and educating parents on the critical importance of supervising children in and near the water," said Rep. Wasserman-Schultz.
Washington, D.C. was awarded the second highest grant with $170,250. Rounding out the group, two cities in Connecticut were also included. Samford was given $131,000 and Bridgeport got roughly $75,000.