Elected officials and community members are trying to get the word out about water safety.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal is praising the work of the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation.

It was created by Stew and Kim Leonard following the accidental drowning of their son back in 1989.

"The loss suffered by the Leonard family provided the impetus for them to launch this program, they provided more than 250,000 lessons, thousands of instructional books. They have made this cause their life's work because they suffered a tragic loss that they feel could have been prevented," Blumenthal says.

The senator is urging parents to keep a watchful eye when their children swim.

He notes most drownings occur in residential pools when a parent gets distracted.