By Katelyn Massarelli
This past June 24, aquatic center’s around the world took part in The World’s Largest Swim Lesson to not only give kids the chance to have fun in the pool but also learn water safety. With the summer being one of the worst times throughout the year for drowning accidents, the summer time is the best time to teach children and adults how to swim and how to be safe in the water.
Wanting to educate younger children on swimming and pool safety throughout the community, Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center (BSAC) hosted a swim lesson with The World’s Largest Swim Lesson. Hosted by BSAC’s Aquatic Director Theresa Hickie, the 30 minute lesson kicked off 10 a.m.
BSAC swim lesson instructors and coaches all helped to teach younger kids and adults with special needs how to swim. The swimmers were participating in many different water drills to get them started in the water such as kicking and floating on their back.
“We created a safe environment for kids with lifeguards and instructors surrounding the pool,” Hickie said. “We’re aiming to get swimmers excited to swim.”
Because children drownings have become the forefront of concern, BSAC recently partnered with the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County to bring free mobile swim lessons to different aquatic center locations across the county.
The Children’s Board of Hillsborough County’s Director of Public Relations, Paula Scott, came to the swim lesson to help spread awareness to the swimmers and their parents on water safety skills and promote the free swim lessons being offered throughout the county.
“[The Children’s Board of Hillsborough County and the five partners of the Mobile Water Safety Team] are all working together to provide swim lessons that teach life-saving skills to children and their parents,” said Scott. “The number of child drownings have gone down because of our efforts.”
For more information on The World’s Largest Swim Lesson, visit www.worldslargestswimminglesson.org. For further information on BSAC and how to sign up your child for swim lessons, visit www.mybsac.org or call 689-0908.
