TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa will host the World's Largest Swimming Lesson this week at four pools to spread awareness of drowning deaths in children.
The World's Largest Swimming Lesson global initiative aims to prevent drowning amongst children. The annual event, hosted by the World Waterpark Association, was first launched in 2010.
Drowning is the leading cause of death in the United States for children ages 1-4 and the second leading cause for ages 5-14, according to the organization's website.
The event will be held from 10-11 a.m. on Thursday, June 20. The event will be hosted at the following Tampa pools:
The entire event is free and does not require registration.
In addition to the lesson, the event promotes water safety and drowning prevention with giveaways, information on regular lessons, water safety tips and other details parents need to keep their children safe in the pool.
This year, the Tampa program is supported by Smile Like Aubrey. This local non-profit organization encourages drowning prevention awareness and advocacy for self-rescue swim skills in infants and young toddlers.
Between 2013-22, Hillsborough County suffered 235 unintentional drowning deaths. In the same 10-year span, there were 4,244 deaths statewide, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Research from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that children participating in formal swimming lessons between the ages of 1-4 can reduce the risk of drowning by 88%. However, a 2020 survey by the American Red Cross shows that 56% of Americans either can't swim or don't have the necessary basic swimming skills.