DPR will host three official sites as part of the global attempt to break the current world record for The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™.
Media Contact: John Stokes, (202) 288-7275
Washington, DC – On Tuesday, June 14th, 2011, thousands of children, youth and adults at aquatic facilities around the globe will unite to set a new global record for The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™ (WLSL). The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) will host three official locations: Wilson Aquatic Center, Deanwood Aquatic Center, and Upshur Outdoor Pool for the 2011 WLSL record-setting event, taking place at 11:00 am EST. Sign up today and make history.
The inaugural WLSL event established the Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous swimming lesson ever conducted in 2010 when almost 4,000 participants across 34 states, five countries and 3 continents participated to build awareness about the vital importance of teaching children and adults to swim in order to prevent drowning. The 2011 attempt of the world record will be the first time District of Columbia pools will be participating in the record-breaking effort.
Tragically, drowning is the second leading cause of accidental deaths of children ages 1-14 in the US. More than one in four fatal drowning victims are children 14 and younger. The threat of childhood drowning is even greater around the globe.
The WLSL program works to promote drowning prevention through education by focusing the energy of thousands of participants delivering a clear and specific message all at the same time. In 2010, aquatic facilities, from Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon near Orlando, Florida to swim schools in Orange Country, CA, to parks & recreation centers in the Bronx, to locations in Mexico, Dubai and the USAG Humphreys in South Korea, all taught the same swimming lesson at the same time with one goal in mind – to deliver the message that Swimming Lessons Save Lives™.
“It is so important to draw attention to this issue,” said DPR Director, Jesus Aguirre, “particularly at the beginning of the summer season. The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™ is a perfect way to bring the message to life for residents of all ages.”
For more information visit www.wlsl.org. To register for the event at a DPR pool go to the DPR registration page.
EVENT DETAILS:
- Date: Tuesday, June 14, 2011
- Check-In Time: 10:15 AM
- Start of Event: 11:00 AM
- End of Event: 11:45 AM
LOCATIONS:
- Wilson Aquatic Center
4551 Fort Drive, NW
202-730-0583 - Deanwood Aquatic Center
1350 49th Street, NE
202-671-3078 - Upshur Outdoor Pool
4300 Arkansas Avenue, NW
202-576-8661