Scores of Bahamian children joined their peers around the world to engage in the world’s largest swimming lesson.
Atlantis Paradise Island partnered with Urban Renewal Centers in New Providence to facilitate approximately 80 children between ages five and 12 for the “World’s Largest Swimming Lesson” event on Thursday, June 25, at The Royal Baths.
At 10 a.m., Atlantis water safety team members and their training department led the swim lessons for the children at 10 a.m. for the ninth consecutive year.
The “World’s Largest Swimming Lesson” is an event aimed at raising water safety awareness. The focus is on fostering a safer, more water-aware future for children. The result is to impact children’s lives positively and empower them to navigate water safely and confidently.
Organized by the World Waterpark Association, the event brings together leading water safety organizations, water parks, and aquatic centers worldwide to promote a critical message: swimming lessons save lives.
World Health Organization (WHO) statistics show there are around 300,000 annual drowning deaths worldwide. And that drowning disproportionately impacts children and young people. And that children under five years account for nearly a quarter of all drowning deaths. The WHO statistics say drowning is the fourth leading cause of death for children aged one to four years and the third leading cause of death for children aged five to 14 years. And that 92 percent of drowning deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
