COEUR d’ALENE — Nearly 100 local kids were part of "The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson” on Thursday.

“Our hope is, this exposure starts fostering a love of water,” said Dawn Deren, owner of Safe Splash Swim School in Coeur d’Alene.

Children ages 3 to 12 learned about being comfortable and safe in the water during free 30-minute sessions at Safe Splash on Schreiber Way.

They kicked, they paddled and they dunked their heads underwater, they floated and flipped over onto their backs, all under the supervision of Safe Splash instructors.

Deren said the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting lessons at six months of age.

“It’s that important,” she said.

According to the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is a public health problem worldwide.

In 2019, an estimated 236,000 people died from drowning. Drowning is the third-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death.

“The safety aspect is critical,” Deren said.

The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson is a global drowning prevention event launched by the World Waterpark Association in 2010.

The program takes place at all types of aquatic facilities from waterparks to community pools and swim schools.

Deren said they were pleased to team up with Triple Play for The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson.

“This is just what we do," she said.

Swimming is a lifesaving skill for children and a vital tool to prevent drowning, the No. 1 cause of death for U.S. children ages 1-4, and second-leading cause for children 5-14, a press release said.

Research from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows risk of drowning can be reduced by 88% if children participate in formal swimming lessons between the ages of 1-4.

Jennifer Ross, triple Play marketing and sales director, said while the free lessons are a good start, they encourage parents to continue having their children take them.

“It’s very important parents get their children to know how to survive in the water," she said.