More Than 600 Waterparks, Swim Schools and
Pools in 19 Countries Taught an Estimated 43,000 Kids Vital Swim
and Water Safety Skills to Combat Increased Drowning Risk Following
the Pandemic
OVERLAND
PARK, Kan., June 24,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 15th Annual
World's Largest Swimming Lesson, coordinated by the World Waterpark
Association, brought together thousands of water safety advocates
on six continents to send a united message on the first day of
summer: Swimming Lessons Save Lives.
Drowning, the single leading cause of death for kids ages 1-4,
is on the rise in the U.S. for the first time in decades and making
swimming lessons more accessible can save lives, according to a new
study from the U.S. C.D.C. released last month. In early June, the
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's annual report on drowning
and submersion echoed those findings, showing fatal drownings for
children under the age of 15 increased by 12 percent in 2021
compared to 2020. Lack of access to pools, delayed swimming
lessons, significant growth in the number of backyard pools and
spas and changes in how people recreate around water are all
contributing factors.
"The recent increase in drowning rates makes our mission more
urgent than ever," said Rick Root,
president of the World Waterpark Association. "We want parents to
understand that formal swimming lessons and an understanding of
basic water safety principles are paramount for their child's
safety."
Aquatic facilities, including waterparks, swim schools, local
community pools, and even beachfronts, participated providing free
swimming and water safety lessons to more than 43,000 kids during
the one-day event. The lessons took place in 19 different
countries, including Australia,
Bahamas, Benin, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Hong Kong,
India, Japan, Mexico,
Qatar, Spain, Trinidad and
Tobago, United Arab
Emirates, United Kingdom, United States and
Uruguay.
"Today is the first day of summer, and we're kicking it off with
the World's Largest Swimming Lesson right here at Disney's Typhoon
Lagoon," said Tajiana Ancora-Brown, director of external affairs
for Walt Disney World, who hosted
this year's single largest WLSL event. "We invited seven different
non-profits from throughout central Florida and we have 1,000 students
participating with us this morning. We want to expose as many kids
as we can to these life-saving skills."
Ryan Murphy, an ambassador for
Goldfish Swim Schools who qualified for his third Olympic team by
sweeping the Backstroke events at the U.S. Olympic Team Swimming
Trials last week, is a passionate learn-to-swim advocate. "Simply
enrolling your child in formalized swim lessons can reduce the risk
of drowning by up to 88%," said Murphy. "It helps mitigate risk.
Having kids take part in the World's Largest Swimming Lesson at
Goldfish Swim Schools all around the country is a great way to
introduce them to swimming and the importance of water safety."
"Within the lessons, we work on various safety skills," said
Kirsten Conrad, general manager of
the Kansas City Goldfish Swim Schools. "We talk about things like
being safe around the pool, what you should do when you see someone
in trouble in the water, why it's important to have lifeguards
around, and all of those pieces so that kids are aware of water
safety beyond the walls here at Goldfish."
"Swimming is a skill that every person should have," said parent
Duwayne Moore, whose son Brian
participated in the event. "All kids should know how to swim,
period."
About: The World's Largest Swimming Lesson™
(WLSL.org) is a global drowning prevention event designed to raise
awareness about the risks associated with water and the critical
importance of teaching kids to swim. Launched by the World
Waterpark Association (waterparks.org) in 2010, the WLSL program is
celebrating its 15th Anniversary, having served more
than 400,000 participants in 54 countries through its team of Host
Locations.
WLSL b-roll/soundbites available at:
https://bit.ly/3xiWnix
Contact: Beth Root
Email: 379509@email4pr.com
Phone: 913-544-5734
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