SeeCalifornia.com

Every year in June the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson teaches people globally how to swim in an effort to save lives.

Californians are swimming by the millions and sadly, no recent summer has been drowning-free at beaches and pools in the Golden State. California State Parks alone reports over a dozen drowning deaths every recent year, and their portion of beaches and lakes are just a small sampling of the water bodies that tourists and swimmers like to frequent.

Swimming accidents are especially brutal — more than 50% of drowning victims treated in emergency room departments require hospitalization or transfer for further care (compared with a hospitalization rate of about 6% for all unintentional injuries). These nonfatal drowning injuries can cause severe brain damage that may result in long-term disabilities such as memory problems, learning disabilities and permanent loss of basic function or even a permanent vegetative state.

Most at Risk

• Males — make up 80% drowning victims in the United States.
• Children ages 1-4 years have the highest drowning rates, usually in home swimming pools.
• Minorities — African American children ages 5-19 years drown in swimming pools at rates 5.5 times higher than Caucasians of the same age.

Statistics from CDC

Californians take World’s Largest Swimming Lesson

June 20, 2019

Participating cities include: Carson, Chula Vista, Costa Mesa, Dublin, El Monte, Folsom, La Mirada, Lakewood, Lynwood, National City, Newbury Park, Orange, Palmdale, San Clemente, San Dimas, San Marcos, Santa Clarita, Santa Maria, Santa Monica, South Gate, Temecula, Tracy, Rancho Cordova, Thousand Oaks and Union City.

Also check theme parks and YMCA locations. If they aren’t participating, ask them to.