The World Waterpark Association is officially opening registration for the 12th Annual World’s Largest Swimming Lesson on Thursday, April 1st. Host Locations can celebrate April Pools Day by signing-up for this year’s worldwide lesson at https://www.wlsl.org/WLSL/host_an_event.aspx.
Tens of millions of children missed the opportunity to participate in aquatics last summer, creating an urgent need for swim lessons in 2021. Organisers are urging aquatic facilities of all types to register for this global, one-day event and to host at least 21 participants (#21in21) to build awareness about the need and importance of swim lessons in their local communities.
According to the World Health Organisation, drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury-related death, accounting for 7 percent of all injury-related deaths worldwide. In the U.S., drowning remains the leading cause of preventable injury-related death for children ages 1-4, and the second leading cause for children under 14. Yet, according to a 2020 research study completed by the American Red Cross, more than half (54%) of U.S. kids ages 4-17 are not able to perform the basic water safety skills that can save their life.
The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson provides kids, parents and caregivers exposure to life-saving water safety skills while building buzz and awareness about the importance of teaching children to swim and providing undistracted adult supervision to help prevent drowning.
Aquatics facilities and providers can join TEAM WLSL in their mission to prevent childhood drowning through education by registering to conduct the 30-minute lesson any time of day during the 24-hour event on Thursday, June 17th. Learn more at https://www.wlsl.org.
