Joplin, MO (SNS) – Area residents and students at Missouri Southern State University are invited to campus to join the thousands of children and adults around the world set to take part in the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson on Thursday, June 18.
Children and adults of all ages can register for free at 9 a.m. at the Aquatic & Racquetball Center, located in Leggett & Platt Athletic Center’s Young Gymnasium. Those attending should use Door 13 on the south side of the building.
Participants need to be registered by 10 a.m. as the Guinness World Records attempt will begin precisely at that time, with instruction to be synchronized worldwide. The lesson will cover safety, entry, breathing and submerging, floating and strokes. It will last approximately 30 minutes. There will be awards and prizes at 10:30 a.m.
The event was created to help spread the message that “Swimming Lessons Save Lives.” Drowning is the second leading cause of unintended, injury-related death of children ages 1 to 14. Research shows that if a child doesn’t learn to swim before they reach the third grade, it’s unlikely they ever will.
The first 25 participants will receive a WLSL wristband. All participants will receive an official certificate of participation in the event. If the world record is broken, the facility could be listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.
In the event of thunder or lightning, the event will be cancelled.
For more information, contact Heather Arnold, director of aquatics and wellness, at 417-625-9533 or MSSUAquatics@mssu.edu, or visit www.wlsl.org.
-WWW.MSSU.EDU-