MEDIA ADVISORY: 40,000+ Kids Worldwide to Learn Life-Saving Swimming Skills in Coordinated Global Safety Initiative This Thursday

World's Largest Swimming Lesson™ Mobilizes Just Before Peak U.S. Water Recreation Season

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., June 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --

WHAT:

The World's Largest Swimming Lesson™ (#WLSL) mobilizes hundreds of aquatic facilities across six continents in a synchronized 24-hour event designed to teach critical water safety skills to children and adults. Now in its 16^th year, this global initiative addresses an urgent public health crisis: drowning remains the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4 in the U.S.

The coordinated effort brings together waterparks, swim schools, and community pools to deliver hands-on swimming and water safety education under the banner "Swimming Lessons Save Lives."

This 24-hour global event represents the largest coordinated effort to address childhood drowning through direct education and community engagement.

WHO:

Participants: More than 40,000 children and parents expected globally
Instructors: Certified swim instructors and aquatic safety experts
Scope: 46 U.S. states and 21 countries participating

WHEN: 

Thursday, June 26, 2025. (event times vary by location/facility)
TIMING IS CRITICAL: The event happens just before peak drowning season. In the United States, July consistently ranks as the deadliest month for drowning incidents, with the July 4^th holiday weekend marking a particularly high-risk period as families gather around pools, lakes, and beaches. This timing makes the lesson's water safety message especially urgent for American families, while the global reach addresses year-round drowning risks in countries with different seasonal patterns.

WHERE:

Aquatic facilities worldwide, including locations in: Bahamas, Benin, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Qatar, Trinidad and Tobago, UAE, Uruguay, USA, and Vietnam. A complete location directory can be found here on the WLSL.org website.

WHY THIS MATTERS:

• Drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide
• Leading killer of U.S. children ages 1-4
• CDC data shows drowning deaths increased to over 4,500 annually (2020-2022), up 500 deaths per year from 2019
• July represents peak drowning season in the U.S., with the July 4^th holiday weekend among the most high- risk times for water-related fatalities and accidents

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

Visual Content: Swimming instruction, safety demonstrations, kids and families participating

Story Angles:
Grassroots movement spanning six continents, local facilities serving as frontline for drowning prevention, families learning skills that could save their children's lives, critical preparation before peak drowning season, public health crisis and community response, holiday weekend safety for families heading into July 4^th celebrations

ABOUT THE WORLD'S LARGEST SWIMMING LESSON™:
Launched in 2010 by the World Waterpark Association, WLSL has served more than 413,000 participants across 54 countries through its team of Host Locations. The program coordinates global efforts to teach water safety skills and reduce drowning through community-based swimming instruction and increased awareness about the importance of basic water safety skills.

HASHTAGS: #WLSL #SwimmingLessonsSaveLives #WaterSafety #DrowningIsPreventable

For more information or interview requests with event organizer or water safety/drowning prevention experts, please contact: Beth Root, [email protected]

Contacts for local facilities: can be found in the WLSL Host location directory, here.

B-ROLL of the World's Largest Swimming Lesson™ can be found HERE.

Contact: Beth Root
[email protected]
Phone: 913-544-5734

SOURCE World's Largest Swimming Lesson