World's Largest Swim Lesson, June 19, 2014

Lucas 6th-grader Brian Morris receives instruction from Lead Swim Lesson Coordinator Andrew Bloom as part of the World's Largest Swim Lesson at the Iowa City Park Pool on Friday, June 20, 2014. For the fifth annual attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest swimming lesson ever, thousands of participants from around the nation aimed at beating 32,450 combined efforts as conducted at the local official host location facility, City Park. The event was organized as an effort to reduce drowning, as it is the leading cause of unintended, injury-related death for children ages 1 through 5, and the second leading cause of accidental death for children under 14. Research shows participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children aged 1 to 4. (Justin Torner/Freelance for the Gazette)