On the cusp of summer in Memphis, a commendable effort is underway to combat a pressing public health concern. Drowning, a stealthy predator in the realm of accidental children's deaths, necessitates a vigilant effort in prevention. In this spirit, the World's Largest Swim Lesson (WLSL) descended upon the University of Memphis, rallying 150 young attendees from Girls Inc. into the water for a potentially life-saving education.

As reported by Action News 5, the event marks a result of collaboration between powerhouses including the YMCA of Memphis and the Mid-South, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Splash Mid-South, and the University of Memphis. This symbiotic network illustrates, that no single institution is an island, instead, they are interconnected facets of a community dedicated to safeguarding its youth. Particularly, communities of color, where disparities in access to swimming facilities and lessons linger.

Anthony Norris, Executive Vice President and Chief Advisory Officer for the YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South, stated in an interview with Action News 5, "We’ve had many of our children that have not only learned to swim, but gone on to swim on swim teams, go to college". Norris added, "One of our program participants just graduated from the Naval Academy. My daughter Kiara, who swam in college, is now a swim coach."

The WLSL's reach expands far beyond the confines of Memphis, with a rousing 600 locations across 18 countries partaking on Thursday, June 20. As per FOX13 Memphis, the initiative aims to garner more than 35,000 participants. Such numbers are not only a testament to the scale of this endeavor but to the universal appeal of securing our collective future through the preservation of young life.

In light of unsettling statistics, where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declares drowning as the top involuntary executioner of children aged 1 to 4 in the United States, and the American Red Cross echoes the grim toll with figures like ten unintentional drowning deaths per day, such an initiative is not only necessary but exigent. Norris, representing the collective voice of succor told Local Memphis, "Many of the swimmers that started out as young kids on the program are now coaches, swim instructors, many are lifeguards, but we really wanna prepare them to take the torch."