The Smithfield Recreation and Aquatics Center partnered with Alligator Steps, the Local Government Federal Credit Union and SafeKids Johnston County for the World’s Largest Swim Lesson on Thursday. Over 100 children ages 3 to 10 participated in the swim lesson hosted at the Smithfield Recreation and Aquatics Center.
Alligator Steps provided the instruction and the Local Federal Government Credit Union provided googles and life safety vests.
The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson was created to spread the word that Swimming Lessons Save Lives. Tragically, drowning is the leading cause of unintended, injury related death of children ages 1- 4.
The World’s Largest Swim Lesson was started in 2010 as a platform to support public education about safer water practices and build awareness about the critical importance of teaching children to swim. Research shows that children ages 1-4 can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% after formal swim lessons.
In 2018, 41,181 individuals participated in the World Largest Swim Lesson.
What can you do as a parent to protect your child in and around water?
- Enroll your kids in formal swimming lessons and if you don’t know how to swim enroll yourself, too.
- Drowning is silent and can happen in seconds
- Never leave kids alone in or around water. Designate a “WATER WATCHER” whenever children are close to or in the water.
- Being safe in and around water requires more than just swimming lessons. It requires constant, careful supervision of children, appropriate fencing and safety equipment, and knowing what to do in an emergency.
“Swimming Lessons Save Lives” and you absolutely must “BE WATER AWARE”.
