Swimways Kicks off Water Safety Month by Gearing Up for Sixth Annual National Learn to Swim Day set for Saturday, May 20th

Annual Day Sheds Light on the Importance of Water Safety and Learning to Swim

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA, May 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - With summer just around the corner, the month of May brings National Water Safety Month – an annual campaign to raise awareness about the importance of safe water practices.  Swimways Corp., a leading outdoor recreational water products manufacturer and creator of the SwimWays^® Swim Steps^™ learn to swim product line, kicks off the start of National Water Safety Month by announcing their sixth annual National Learn to Swim Day, slated for Saturday, May 20, 2017.

The annual day, held on the third Saturday of May each year, was established by Swimways to raise awareness about the importance of teaching children the essential life skill of learning to swim.  "For more than 50 years, we have been providing learn to swim aids for children to feel confident in the water as they learn this invaluable life skill," says Monica Jones, vice president of marketing, Swimways Corp.  "We believe every child should know how to swim, opening up a world of discovery and play in the water."

Swimways originated National Learn to Swim Day to raise awareness about the importance of learning to swim and to help reduce the number of childhood drownings in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages one to four. The campaign's dedicated website, TeachMeToSwim.com, features water safety tips, learn to swim videos, and swimming aid products that families can access as they gear up for the start of the summer.  In addition to information and resources, TeachMeToSwim.com also houses an event planning toolkit and a downloadable swimming achievement certificate allowing organizations to host events from coast to coast to celebrate National Learn to Swim Day in their own way.

Parents and swim instructors can use SwimWays' Swim Steps product line, a three-step program that features colorful swim-training aids, to help teach children to swim. The first step of the program is designed to introduce and comfortably support babies in the water; step two products give children the ability and freedom to explore as they develop confidence and learn to balance and paddle; and step three products provide graduated support, helping kids to feel empowered and confident as they strengthen and perfect their swimming skills.

Customers will be able to take advantage of special National Learn to Swim Day promotions at the following Swimways retail partners:

• 20% off a SwimWays Baby Spring Float Sun Canopy at Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us, in stores and online, June 2 – June 24.

In 2016, Swimways became a proud sponsor of the USA Swimming Foundation, an organization whose mission is to save lives and build champions – in the pool and life. In recognition of this year's National Learn to Swim Day, Swimways and the USA Swimming Foundation will host an in-water swim lesson and media event on Thursday, May 18 in New York City. Two-time Olympic medalist and USA Swimming Foundation Ambassador Elizabeth Beisel will provide a swim lesson for children and share swim training tips and water safety education.

Families can learn more about National Learn to Swim Day and the Swim Steps product line by visiting www.Swimways.com and TeachMeToSwim.com. 

About Swimways Corp.

Based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Swimways, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Spin Master (TSX: TOY;www.spinmaster.com), is a leisure and recreational water products manufacturer striving to make free time more fun through innovation. Swimways is rich in traditional values and respected for the quality and integrity of its products and services. With distribution in over 20,000 storefronts, Swimways markets three unique brands: SwimWays^®, Kelsyus^®and COOP^®. The company's diverse staff is passionate about developing fun and engaging products for kids. Swimways is equally passionate about making sure kids are safe in and around the water and believes learning to swim is an important life skill. In 2012, Swimways established National Learn to Swim Day, the third Saturday of May each year, dedicated to educating parents and children about water safety and the importance and benefits of learning to swim.  Swimways has been helping kids learn to swim for over 50 years - longer than anyone else (except parents, of course!). For more information about Swimways, visit www.Swimways.com.

SOURCE Swimways Corp.