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Atlanta Water Safety Coalition hosts ‘World’s Largest Swim Lesson’ at Thomasville Pool
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LISTEN: The World’s Largest Swim Lesson is part of a global campaign to prevent drowning, especially in communities lacking access to pools and swimming instruction. GPB’s Ellen Eldridge reports from an Atlanta public pool during the event.
A group of children learned life-saving tips at the city of Atlanta Thomasville Pool as part of the "World’s Largest Swim Lesson" event on June 26.
Lifeguard Kai Burton taught campers how to swim and tread water.
"Some kids are excited and some kids want to know how to swim," he said, "but some kids are scared to learn the swim lessons because they haven't been in the water before."
The event was sponsored by the Atlanta Water Safety Coalition, which is a collaborative partnership between the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, city of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, American Red Cross and the Greater Atlanta Water Safety Alliance.
Dr. Roselyn Marie Hicks is the medical director of the Greater Atlanta Water Safety Alliance. She is also a water safety expert who treats patients at Children’s Heathcare of Atlanta.
"Drowning is silent; it's not like the movies," she said. "There's not all that splashing and thrashing and probably not really any screaming or anything. It's just quiet, you kind of go under the water and you just don't have the wherewithal to bring yourself up."
She said that while drowning is the No. 1 cause of death for children ages 1 to 4, it’s also 100% preventable.
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