The event also served as one of the host sites for the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson, a global initiative designed to raise awareness about water safety and drowning prevention.
(PIGEON FORGE, Tenn.) SMOKIES.LIVE – More than 1,000 children and families gathered at Dollywood’s Splash Country on Thursday morning to learn lifesaving water safety skills during the park’s 16th annual Water Safety Day, presented by Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen.
The event also served as one of the host sites for the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson, a global initiative designed to raise awareness about water safety and drowning prevention. Instructors from British Swim School led participants through a free 30-minute lesson focused on essential swimming and water survival skills.
According to Lauren Lowery, senior operations manager at Dollywood’s Splash Country, swim lessons can significantly reduce the risk of drowning among children.
“Swim lessons actually reduce the chance of drowning by 88%, so swim lessons are so important,” Lowery said. “You can start as early as 6 months old. We’re teaching survival skills like floating on your back and calling for help.”
While lifeguards provide an added layer of protection at the water park, Lowery said families need to be prepared when visiting East Tennessee’s natural waterways.
“Obviously, we have our lifeguards here for you today,” she said. “But when you go to our beautiful East Tennessee mountain rivers, lakes and streams, you don’t have our awesome Dollywood’s Splash Country lifeguards with you. We want to give you the skills and equipment you can take with you into our beautiful mountains to stay safe.”
Lowery emphasized that supervision remains the most important factor in preventing drownings, regardless of a person’s age or swimming ability.
“If you have a pool in your backyard, make sure it’s fenced in and secured,” she said. “No child should ever go into a body of water without permission from their parents. Supervision is important no matter how old you are or how strong your swimming skills are because you could have a medical emergency in the water at any given time.”
This year’s World’s Largest Swimming Lesson drew more than 1,000 participants, making it the largest event in Dollywood’s Splash Country history. Last year, the park recorded the second-highest participation total of any water park in the world for the annual event. Participation numbers from other parks were not immediately available.
Organizers hope the annual event encourages families to prioritize swim lessons, practice safe behaviors around water and develop the skills needed to prevent drownings both at pools and in East Tennessee’s rivers, lakes and streams.
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