Taking place on Thursday, June 22, Team WLSL aims to provide kids and parents exposure to life-saving water safety skills and build awareness about the vital importance of teaching children to swim to prevent drowning. Anticipating a new goal of reaching more than one billion people with their message Swimming Lessons Save Lives™ by 2019, local WLSL events will be taking place at hundreds of pools in more than 20 different countries on five continents over the course of 24 hours. British Swim School is a silver level Supporting Organization for Team WLSL™ and their mission to spread the message Swimming Lessons Save Lives™ because:
- The problem is real: Per the CDC, drowning remains the leading cause of unintended, injury related death for U.S. children ages 1-4, and the second leading cause for children under 14; drowning is an even greater threat in other countries around the world.
- Many lack basic swimming skills: In 2014, a survey completed by the American Red Cross found that more than half of all Americans (54 percent) either can’t swim or don’t have all of the basic swimming skills.
- Parental supervision is key: According to Safe Kids Worldwide 2016 report, despite the fact that lack of supervision played a role in the majority of drowning deaths. Less than half of parents (49 percent) indicate they remain within arms’ reach of their child in the water.
“Our company mission is to raise awareness and promote the importance of water safety around the world,” stated Rita Goldberg, former professional swimmer and CEO & founder of British Swim School. “We’re incredibly excited to partner with Team WLSL to combine our efforts and educate people on preventative measures to avoid a potential tragedy.”
Centered on a two-step curriculum teaching children and adults of all ages’ water safety and survival skills first and swimming skill development second, British Swim School operates a water safety program with teaching methods serving as a trademark for the brand. The franchise offers lessons out of multiple national fitness chains and hotel pools year round and does not run on “set courses”. Each child, regardless of age, is placed in their correct skill level and will have certain achievable objectives. The child will be graduated from that level and moved onto the next without a waiting period, as found in a course driven program.
With more than 155 schools operating throughout the United States, Canada and Turkey, British Swim School offers the industry’s most innovate water safety program teaching safety and survival first, and swimming skill development second. For further information, visit www.BritishSwimSchool.com.
About The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™
The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson was created as a platform to help the aquatics industry work together to build awareness about the fundamental importance of teaching children to swim to prevent drowning. Since its inception, more than 195,000 children and adults have participated in WLSL lessons generating more than half a billion media impressions about the vital importance of learning to swim. Visit www.wlsl.org to learn more.
About British Swim School
British Swim School focuses on teaching water survival skills to children as young as three months old and offers swim lessons for all ages. Founded in 1981 by Rita Goldberg, a former national swimmer in England, British Swim School provides highly effective teaching methods that are recognized as the brand’s trademark. The franchisor, headquartered in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., operates more than 155 schools in nearly 20 states in the U.S., as well as internationally in Turkey and Canada. British Swim School ranked 309 in the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 in 2017, as well as Top 50 New Franchises and Top 10 Types of Franchises to Watch. British Swim School aligns itself with Stop Drowning Now and Pool Safely, which both share its mission to protect every life from drowning through education and water safety awareness. For more information about British Swim School visit www.britishswimschool.com and for franchise opportunities visit www.franchise.britishswimschool.com.
