Swimming lesson at Schlitterbahn a world record

GALVESTON — We broke a world record Tuesday — the largest swim lesson in the world!

The lesson took place simultaneously in several countries all around the world. In Galveston, Schlitterbahn and Beach Patrol lifeguards teamed up at Schlitterbahn to give a swim lesson to 350 children.

Most of the children were from Galveston nonprofit groups. Schlitterbahn was kind enough to let them in free. We teamed up each Beach Patrol guard with a Schlitterbahn counterpart to teach 10 children. Everyone had fun.

Doug White oversees operations at the park. He’s an excellent manager and all-around quality person, and a big part of why that park is so well run and managed. He and I gave safety information to the children and parents for water parks, pools, lakes and beaches.

Commonalities include things like not swimming alone, following the rules specific to each aquatic environment, swimming near a lifeguard and obeying his or her instructions, taking precautions for the heat and sun and use of life jackets for nonswimmers and children.

The most important and most universal rule is to learn to swim. It’s the only sport that will save your life. With drowning being the second highest cause of accidental death for children in the U.S. and the highest cause of death in some parts of the world, this is a critical issue.

Schlitterbahn guards will join us this year for our annual Beach Fest competition July 16, along with the new South Padre Island Beach Patrol and all of our junior lifeguards. This is the final competition for our guards who are trying to get enough points to qualify to go to the National Lifeguard Championships, which will be in Cape May, N.J., this year.

Just like many other departments, we’ve experienced budget cuts the past couple of years. This makes it harder to pull off sending a team to compete. We value this experience as it gives a goal to all the guards, which raises the bar in maintaining the high level of fitness required for ocean rescue. It’s also a way for them to network with the top guards from around the country. They bring back lots of ideas how to improve our operations and, when they come back all fired up, the enthusiasm is contagious.

One of the main ways we are able to pay for our lifeguard and junior lifeguard teams to go is our primary fundraiser of the year, which is a barbecue. We’ll have food, music, games and about 2,000 of our closest friends from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. June 24 at the Press Box, 24th and Postoffice streets. We want you to be there. See any lifeguard for tickets or call our office at 409-763-4769 to have packs of five or more delivered to you. To get more information check our website.

Not only does this money go to competitions, it also helps to fund equipment, our Lifeguard Scholarship fund, Sister City Veracruz Lifeguard Exchange Program and lots of other worthwhile things. Your $15 contribution also is tax deductible.

Peter Davis is chief of the Galveston Island Beach Patrol. The views in this column are Davis’ and do not necessarily represent those of the Beach Patrol, Galveston Park Board of Trustees or any other entity. Information on the Beach Patrol is at galvestonbeachpatrol.com.