Charlotte County participates in 'World's Largest Swimming Lesson'

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. (WINK) — Charlotte County is participating in the World's Largest Swimming Lesson on Thursday, a global movement aimed at teaching life-saving swimming skills to adults and children.

• SEE ALSO: Advocates push for more drowning prevention efforts after 2-year-old drowns in North Port pool

The event is taking place at Centennial Park Pool, located between El Jobean Road and U.S. 41 just outside of Port Charlotte. Drowning is the leading cause of death for young children in Florida, making these lessons potentially life-saving.

Michael Haggard, a board member with the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, said Florida is making legislative progress in drowning prevention. Starting July 1, a new law expands Florida's swim lesson voucher program to help qualifying children up to age 7 receive free swim lessons. The law also requires new parents to receive drowning prevention education.

Haggard said these lessons are critical even when supervision lapses.

"What we found through the statistics through the CDC is that 75% of drownings happen to children when the kids are not expected to be around the pool," Haggard said.

The free event runs from 10 to 10:30 a.m.