More than 35,000 Swimmers Expected to Break Fourth World Record for the Largest Simultaneous Swimming Lesson to Send the Message Swimming Lessons Save Lives™

Olympic Gold Medalists Janet Evans, Rowdy Gaines and Brendan Hansen, along with past and present members of the USA Swimming National Team kick off events taking place at more than 700 locations around the globe.

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World's Largest Swimming Lesson

Jun 17, 2013, 02:06 ET

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., June 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, June 18th, 2013, tens of thousands of kids on five continents will unite to splash and flutter-kick their way to a fourth consecutive Guinness World Record to help combat childhood drowning.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130617/PH33307LOGO )

Swimmers at hundreds of waterparks and aquatic facilities around the world join Team WLSL to take part in The World's Largest Swimming Lesson™ (WLSL), beginning at exactly 3 pm GMT (11 am EDT, 8 am PDT.) to shed light on the fact that drowning is the second leading cause of unintended, injury-related death for kids between 1 and 14.

"Research shows participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children aged 1 to 4," said Rowdy Gaines, Olympic Gold Medalist and spokesperson for the event. "Yet many kids don't receive formal swimming or water safety training. Drowning is preventable and the first step is insuring every child learns to swim."

Event organizers are projecting more than 35,000 participants for the 2013 life-saving swim lesson, more than a 40% percent increase over last year's world record of 24,873.

About The World's Largest Swimming Lesson™

The World's Largest Swimming Lesson™ was created by the World Waterpark Association in 2010 as a platform to help aquatic facilities and water safety organizations work together to communicate the fundamental importance of teaching children to swim. Visit www.wlsl.org to learn more.

The event is supported by the following leaders in water safety:

The American Red Cross, Amusement Today, Aquatics International, Athletic Business, The Association of Aquatic Professionals, The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals, Canadian Red Cross, Center for Disease Control Healthy Swimming Program, Colin's Hope, Drowning Prevention Foundation, INATI, International Swimming Hall of Fame, International Swim Instructors Association, Independent Pool & Spa Service Association, Jeff Ellis & Associates, National Aquatic Safety Company, National Recreation & Park Association, Park World Magazine, Pool Safely, Resort and Recreation Magazine, Starfish Aquatics Institute, Safer 3 Water Safety Foundation, United States Swim School Association, USA Swimming Foundation and the World Waterpark Association.

Media Contact: Kristin Scheithauer
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714-336-0920

SOURCE World's Largest Swimming Lesson