World’s largest swimming lesson set for 14 June

Thousands of kids and adults at aquatics facilities around the globe will unite to set a new global record for the world’s largest swimming lesson (WLSL) at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, 14 June. Brigantine Aquatic Centre is an official host location for the 2011 WLSL record-setting event.

 The inaugural WLSL event established the Guinness world record for the largest simultaneous swimming lesson ever conducted in 2010 when almost 4,000 participants across 34 states, five countries and three continents participated to build awareness about the vital importance of teaching children to swim to prevent drowning.

Tragically, drowning is the second leading cause of unintended, injury-related death of children ages 1-14 in the United States. In fact, more than one in four fatal drowning victims are children 14 and younger.  And, research shows if a child doesn’t learn to swim before the third grade, they likely never will. The threat of childhood drowning is even greater around the globe.

The WLSL program works to promote drowning prevention through education by focusing the energy of thousands of participants on a clear and specific message all at the same time. In 2010, aquatic facilities, from Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon near Orlando, Fla. to swim schools in Orange Country, Calif., to parks and recreation centers in the Bronx, to locations in Mexico, Dubai and the USAG Humphreys in South Korea, all taught the same swimming lesson at the same time with one goal in mind – send the message that swimming lessons save lives.

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park near Orlando has been designated as the official headquarters location for the international event for the second year.

Gold medalists Rowdy Gaines and Janet Evans are official spokespeople for the

WLSL event for the second year to help convey that loss of life from drowning can be prevented through awareness and training.

 “It is so important to draw attention to this issue,” said Robin Taylor of the Brigantine Aquatic Center, “particularly at the beginning of the summer season. The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson is a perfect way to bring the message to life for kids and parents.” (www.shorenewstoday.com)