World’s Largest Swimming Lesson: WWA Calls for Global Participation
(eap) According to official figures from the World Health Organization (WHO), around 300,000 people worldwide die from drowning each year, almost a quarter of them children under the age of five. Among children aged one to four, drowning is the fourth leading cause of death; among children aged five to 14, it is even the third leading cause. While the WHO has been using the “World Drowning Prevention Day” since 2021 to raise awareness of drowning incidents and life-saving prevention measures, the World Waterpark Association (WWA) is once again inviting aquatic facilities worldwide to take part in “The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™” (WLSL) event, this time on Thursday, 25 June 2026.
Now in its 17th year, the marketing campaign is intended to bring together swimming pool, beach and waterpark operators to raise awareness of water safety and the importance of early swimming lessons. “Every child deserves the safety that basic swimming skills and layers of protection provide,” emphasizes Rick Root, president of the WWA. “What started as a bold idea 17 years ago has become a shared mission that spans the globe. When facilities from dozens of countries come together on the same day for the same cause, it sends a powerful message to families everywhere that learning to swim saves lives.”
Facilities from around the world took part in last year’s event. According to WWA, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park and Dollywood’s Splash Country Water Park (pictured) recorded the highest participant numbers. All types of aquatic facilities and providers of learn-to-swim programs are invited to participate. They can either organize a special event as part of the WLSL initiative locally or record and promote their regularly scheduled swimming lessons on the day. More information is available here. ■
