Video: Tupelo Participates in ‘World’s Largest Swim and Safety Lesson’

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TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) — Hundreds of children from the Tupelo area take part in what hopefully will the be the “world’s largest swim and safety lesson.”

The Tupelo Aquatic Center was the official host location for an effort to set a Guinness World Record for the world’s largest swimming lesson.

The global record attempt took place simultaneously at 10 a.m. today.

After a short safety video, participants got in the pool and were taken through safety drills by certified lifeguards.

Organizers say the attempt is meant to get swimmers focused on the importance of safety in and around the water.

“Drowning is the leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 5, and it’s the second leading cause of death in children under the age of 14,” Aquatic Center Director Amy Kennedy said. “So, we think it’s very important that everyone is participating in swim lessons to prevent drowning.”

The current record for the largest simultaneous swimming lesson stands at 32,450 participants. Today’s attempt included swimmers in 48 states and 20 countries.