Nearly 100 participants came to Copper Sky to be part of the record. Everyone from children and adults to new swimmers to experienced competitors joined in the fun.
“This is our first, and hopefully our annual, World’s Largest Swimming Lesson,” Copper Sky Aquatic Center Recreation Coordinator John Garton said. “We’re here to promote the swim lessons and save lives. We also hope to promote our aquatics programs for our community and for our city.”
Copper Sky Aquatic Center had nearly a dozen lifeguards and instructors on hand to help. Garton announced the lesson over a microphone, and instructors assisted the swimmers in the water. By the end of the lesson, each participant was taught the proper way to kick, scoop, and float in the water.
In a statement, WLSL said, “Since our first event in 2010, more than 120,000 people have participated in the program. More importantly, our team has spread the vital message ‘Swimming Lessons Save Lives’ through more than 150 million media impressions to help prevent the second leading cause of accidental death for kids aged 1 to 14 in the United States and one of the 10 leading causes of death for people aged 1 to 24 in every region of the world.”
The event began at 10 a.m. worldwide (according to each location’s local time). The event is meant to raise awareness for drowning risks as well as educate new swimmers on the basics while in the water. More than 36,000 people in 900 locations around the world were expected to participate in the event.
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