National Learn to Swim Day

National Learn to Swim Day is an annual American holiday that encourages people to learn how to swim. Swimming is a valuable skill, even if you live in an urban environment. It offers many benefits for the body: it increases endurance, improves cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and positively affects the spine. The holiday is observed on the third Saturday in May.

History

The history of National Learn to Swim Day began in 2012. It was established by SwimWays, a company that produces swimming equipment and products for water activities. The main goal of the holiday is to teach children how to swim and to promote water safety practices.

Many people believe they are good swimmers, but even experienced swimmers can face dangerous situations in the water. The creators of the holiday aim to reduce the number of water-related accidents, which are often due to human error. You should avoid swimming if you feel unwell, lack water skills, or are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Additionally, never swim in areas where it is explicitly prohibited.

Interesting facts

• Swimming is one of the oldest sports, with evidence of competitive swimming dating back more than 10,000 years, as shown by cave paintings.
• The front crawl, the fastest swimming stroke, was created by Native Americans.
• More than half a million people drown worldwide every year.

How to celebrate

Teach your children to swim at specialized swimming pools. If you don’t know how to swim, master this important skill with them. Also, take the opportunity to improve your knowledge of water safety practices.

Share the holiday on social media. Ask your followers if they can swim and how they rate their swimming skills.

When is National Learn to Swim Day in 2025?

National Learn to Swim Day is observed on the third Saturday of May.

Observations