D.C. WEARs Int'l Water Safety Day Well; CLAY Foundation Fundraiser Seeks To Prevent Child Drowning

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Warmer weather means families and, more specifically, children will be flocking to the District's both private and public pools. And along with raucous water games of 'Marco Polo' comes the unfortunate, but still nevertheless very real, increased risk of accidental drowning.

Indeed, drowning claims more than 175,000 children's lives annually worldwide and is the number one cause of death in children ages 0-4. Even for those kids lucky enough to survive a drowning incident, the potential for brain damage remains high.

Recognizing such danger and the need to increase awareness, and therefore prevention, of child drowning, two D.C. women -- Ashley Taylor Bronczek, Founder of The W.E.A.R. Project, and Laura Metro, Founder of The C.L.A.Y. Foundation -- came together to make a difference.

Bronczek's nonprofit now offers a dedicated teal leather bracelet, with $10 from each sale earmarked for The C.L.A.Y. Foundation.

Metro started the latter after the near death drowning of her then three-year-old boy, Clay Metro. After Clay's accident, she was shocked to learn how startling childhood drowning statistics were and was determined to do something about it.

And a celebration of their partnership was held early Wednesday evening at Bronczek's recently renovated Spring Valley home. The intimate and family friendly affair was well timed to coincide with International Water Safety Day.

Bronczek and Metro shrewdly even arranged for an educational 'Float First' swimming demonstration in the backyard pool by instructor Kelly Rogers-Hale, who taught parents about C.L.A.Y.'s primary advocacy goals: CPR, Learn to Float, Automated External Defibrillator Access, and Year Round Warm Water Swim Facilities.

Kids are now free to splish-splash, safely.