The swimming season in Osceola County can be up to 12 months long , but with today being the official first day of Summer, and with kids throughout Osceola being in Summer break, swimming is a big part of every day life right now. It’s a great way to have fun and a great way to keep cool… but it can also come with great risk if the swimmer hasn’t engaged in proper swimming lessons.

Over the course of 24 hours at an estimated 600 locations in more than 20 countries, tens of thousands of kids and adults at aquatic facilities around the world will come together for the eighth consecutive year to highlight the fact that swimming lessons saves lives.

In partnership with Triton Aquatics, LLC, and sponsored by Toho Water Authority and Team Kareem, the Bob Makinson Aquatic Center , located at 2204 Denn John Ln, Kissimmee, FL 34744, will serve as a host facility for World’s Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL) 2017 on June 22, 2017. Registration will begin at 9:00 a.m. with swim lessons taking place from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. All swim lessons will be taught and made available at no cost by Triton Aquatics, LLC for this event.

Since its inception, more than 195,000 children and adults have participated in WLSL lessons to help bring worldwide awareness to the importance of teaching lifesaving water survival skills. In 2016, WLSL events included 40,298 participants from 24 countries.

Tragically, in the United States drowning remains the leading cause of unintended, injury related death for children ages 1-4, and the second leading cause of accidental death for children under 14. Research shows participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children aged 1 to 4, yet many kids never receive formal swimming or water safety training.

For more information about the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson 2017, parents are encouraged to visit WLSL.org, and for more information on any Parks & Recreation programs, please call 407.870.7665 or visit www.kissimmeeparks.org.