The World Waterpark Association (WWA), the international trade association serving waterparks and aquatic venues, has announced details of the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson, to be held this summer.
The annual event, which is returning for the thirteenth time, will take place on 23 June 2022 and is now officially open for registration. Aquatic venues can now sign up to join “TEAM WLSL”, to become a community drowning prevention champion following the success of last year’s event.
The 30-minute swim lesson can take place any time during the 24-hour event, with prospective locations encouraged to host throughout the day alongside their usual daytime schedule.
Thousands of venues around the globe have supported TEAM WLSL since its launch in 2010, raising awareness and providing essential education about water competency and safety.
Operators have helped over 332,000 children and adults participate in lifesaving WLSL lessons since the scheme began, whilst the vital message of learning to swim has benefited from more than two billion media impressions.
Crucial statistics
Research undertaken by the American Red Cross shows that water literacy has improved since the programme first began. In the six years since 2014, the percentage of people possessing key, lifesaving water competency skills jumped from 46% to 56%.
Deaths caused by drowning have also decreased worldwide. Over the past two decades, unintentional drowning deaths amongst children declined 38%, from a rate of 1.6 per 100,000 in 1999 to 1.0 in 2019, according to data from the US-based National Center for Health Statistics.
Organisers however say there is a long way yet to go. The American Academy of Pediatrics released research in 2021 that indicates drowning has become the greatest cause of unintentional death for children ages 1-4, leading ahead of birth defects, car casualties, and cancer.
Not just for pre-schoolers
Drowning remains an issue for children of all ages, being the second leading cause of unintended death for children aged 4-14 and the third for teenagers aged 15-17. The issue is truly a matter of life and death for kids and families in every community around the world.
Parents, as well as their children, require education too – a Safe Kids Worldwide report in 2016 found that roughly half of parents stay within arms’ reach of children in water bodies, despite the fact that lack of supervision plays a part in the majority of drowning deaths.
Local WLSL Host Locations are being encouraged to make a difference to these statistics by providing kids and their caregivers access to potentially lifesaving water safety skills. As well as a valuable marketing tool, the event will generate buzz and awareness about the importance of teaching children to swim with undistracted adult supervision.
Aquatic venues can visit the WLSL website to register their intention to participate.
