PORT ANGELES — The employees at William Shore Memorial Pool invite the public to participate in what has been dubbed The World’s Largest Swim Lesson.
The free half-hour lesson scheduled for 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Friday is intended to provide as many children as possible with swim lessons, said James Schultz, assistant aquatics manager at the public pool at 225 E. Fifth St.
“As a community, we are around water and so knowing water safety and knowing how to swim reduces the risk of drownings,” he said.
“Kids who learn how to swim are less likely to drown.”
The pool is participating in a worldwide movement to teach children to swim.
The lessons are open to children 5 and older as well as adults, Schultz said.
Participants must register with employees at the pool by 5 p.m. Thursday to participate, he said.
Participants need to provide their own swimsuits, goggles and towels, and will be broken up into skill-appropriate groups during the lesson, Schultz said.
Last year more than 480 locations conducted lessons, according to worldslargestswimminglesson.org.
The total number of Host Locations for the 2016 WLSL event won’t be available until after Aug. 1, but current estimates project more than 700 locations in 20 countries will participate.
“Last year, they were part of the Guinness Book of World Records for the world’s largest swim lesson,” Schultz said, adding a new record might be set this year.
Drowning statistics
Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death of children ages 1 to 14, according to worldslargestswimminglesson.org.
Research cited by the group shows an 88 percent decrease in drowning risk for children ages 1 to 4 who take formal lessons.
As such, the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson is designed to provide local water parks, community pools and other aquatic facilities with an event that draws attention to this issue, encourages participation in swimming lesson programs and helps spread the word that swimming lessons save lives.
For more information, visit www.williamshorepool.org or call 360-417-9767.
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Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
