The World Waterpark Association (WWA), the international trade association serving water parks and aquatic venues, is hosting the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL) on 22 June.
The WWA’s annual event, which is returning for its 14th lesson, highlights the importance of learning to swim to prevent childhood drowning. It is taking place this year in 18 different countries on six continents over 24 hours.
Per a statement from the WWA, drowning is the leading cause of death for children aged between one and four years old in the US. It is the second leading cause of accidental death for children ages five to 14, and the third leading cause of injury-related death across the rest of the world.
Swimming lessons save lives
Each year, more drowning and near-drowning incidents take place in the US during the month of June than any other month of the year.
Nearly 80 percent of drowning victims are male, and drowning rates for Black children aged between five and 19 are 5.5 times higher than the rates for white children.
Through the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson event, the WWA will spread the ‘swimming lessons save lives’ message and provide as much training in water safety as possible.
More than 600 water parks, aquatic centres and swimming schools will offer the lesson this week, providing over 20,000 hours of water safety training to children and families in just one day.
Across the world, the association is expecting more than 35,000 participants. The first WLSL event took place in 2010 with 3,854 participants at 71 locations in five countries. Since then, more than 354,000 children and adults have taken part in the WLSL events.
Drowning is silent and very fast, says WWA. Most children who drown are out of sight for fewer than five minutes. Drowning can happen in just two minutes.
Be water aware
According to research, participation in formal swimming lessons by children ages one to four can significantly reduce the risk of drowning.
Here’s what the World Waterpark Association says parents need to know to protect their children in and around water:
- Enrol children in swimming lessons, and if parents or guardians don’t know how to swim, they should also enrol
- Never leave children alone in or around water – not even for a second. An adult should always be watching, giving children 100 percent of their attention
- Young or inexperienced swimmers should wear life vests approved by the United States Coast Guard, and they should not be more than an arm’s length away from parents or guardians
- Parents and guardians must provide constant and careful supervision of children, as well as appropriate fencing and safety equipment. They must know what to do in an emergency, including learning CPR
This year, the World Waterpark Association is partnering with the National Drowning Prevention Alliance for a WLSL livestream on Facebook. The broadcast will include live interviews with water safety experts.
