{"id":4425,"date":"2026-06-25T14:36:28","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T14:36:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tampamovingjournal.com\/?p=4425"},"modified":"2026-06-25T14:36:28","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T14:36:28","slug":"tampa-joins-worlds-largest-swimming-lesson-as-bay-area-drowning-deaths-top-1200-over-past-decade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tampamovingjournal.com\/?p=4425","title":{"rendered":"Tampa joins World’s Largest Swimming Lesson as Bay Area drowning deaths top 1,200 over past decade"},"content":{"rendered":"

TAMPA, Fla.<\/strong> – <\/span>More than 1,200 people drowned across the Tampa Bay region over the past decade, according to state health data. As families spend more time at pools, beaches and lakes this summer, the city of Tampa is joining a worldwide movement to teach a skill experts say can save lives.<\/p>

Read more Florida to execute man who killed his wife in 1992 on Thursday<\/a><\/p>

On Thursday, children at two Tampa pools will take part in the 17th Annual World’s Largest Swimming Lesson, joining participants at hundreds of waterparks, community pools and aquatic facilities across six continents in a synchronized effort to promote water safety and drowning prevention.<\/p>

Bay Area drowning metrics<\/h2>
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By the numbers:<\/p>

According to Florida Health Charts, 1,209 people drowned across Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, Manatee, Sarasota and Hernando counties over the past decade.\u00a0Hillsborough County alone recorded 235 unintentional drowning deaths\u00a0during that period.<\/p>

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Health experts say drowning remains the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 4, making water safety one of the most important conversations families can have before heading to the water.<\/p>

The city of Tampa will host free swim lessons beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday\u00a0at:<\/p>