Global WLSL Event Shares Vital Swim and Water
Safety Skills with Kids & Parents in 19 Countries and 44
States
in the U.S. to Meet the Urgent Need for Water Safety Education –
#SwimmingLessonsSaveLives.
OVERLAND
PARK, Kan., June 19,
2024 /PRNewswire/
-- WHAT: The World's Largest Swimming
Lesson™ is celebrating its 15th year of raising
awareness about the importance of teaching kids and parents how to
swim and Be Water Aware. Launched in 2010, the 24-hour event
coordinates the efforts of hundreds of aquatics facilities around
the world to teach participants basic water safety skills and
spread the message Swimming Lessons Save Lives in local
communities to help prevent drowning.
WHO: WLSL Host Locations are expecting more than
39,000 kids and parents on six continents to participate during the
one-day event.
WHEN: Thursday, June 20, 2024. Local event times
vary by location.
WHERE: The WLSL is taking place at waterparks, swim
schools, pools and other aquatic facilities in 44 states in the
U.S. and 19 countries around the globe including: Australia, Bahamas, Benin, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Hong Kong,
India, Japan, Mexico,
Qatar, Spain, Trinidad and
Tobago, U.A.E., UK, United States and Uruguay. A full, searchable list of locations
by market including contact information is available on the
WLSL.org website. Visuals of swim instructors, aquatic specialists,
children and parents learning swimming skills available at all
locations.
WHY: Drowning is the single leading cause of death
for children ages 1-4 in the U.S. According to the CDC, drowning
deaths in the U.S. have increased overall in recent years with over
4,500 people drowning each year from 2020-2022, about 500 more each
year compared to 2019. In 2022, drowning among children ages 1-4,
increased by 28% compared to 2019. More drowning accidents take
place in June than any other month of the year. While research
shows participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk
of drowning by up to 88% among children aged 1-4, research
conducted by the American Red Cross in 2020 showed more than half
of kids (56%) ages 4-17 can't perform the basic swim skills needed
to save their life.
About: The World's Largest Swimming Lesson™
(WLSL.org) is a global drowning prevention event designed to raise
awareness of the risks involved with water and the critical
importance of teaching kids to swim. Launched by the World
Waterpark Association (waterparks.org) in 2010, the WLSL program
has served more than 383,000 participants in 53 countries through
its team of Host Locations.
For more information or interview requests with event
organizer or water safety/drowning prevention experts, please
contact: Beth Root,
bethroot@buzzonic.com
WLSL event b-roll available at:
https://bit.ly/3KMZ9Q4
Contact: Beth Root
379371@email4pr.com
Phone: 913-544-5734
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SOURCE World's Largest Swimming Lesson