$100,000 fund will help city kids learn water safety skills

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On June 15, Congressman Chris Murphy (CT-5), Waterbury Police Chief Neil O'Leary, and city leaders will announce a water safety program sponsored by the Police Activity League (PAL) and funded by federal dollars secured by Murphy. Last summer, Waterbury experienced the untimely death of Jeffrey Scott, 18, who drowned in the Mad River. Waterbury PAL wants to help city kids learn water safety skills to keep them safe, and Murphy got $100,000 for PAL in the Fiscal Year 2009 omnibus appropriations bill. Nationwide, more than one in four fatal drowning victims are children 14 and younger. For every child who dies from drowning, another four receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries.