The World Waterpark Association (WWA) has been awarded the National Drowning Prevention Alliance's (NDPA) prestigious Lighthouse Award for 2014.

The award was given to the WWA's World's Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL) event in recognition of its "reach nationally and internationally about drowning prevention and water safety".

"Having the World's Largest Swimming Lesson host locations break the Guinness World Record was ingenious," said Sue Nelson, US swimming and NDPA board member. "Everyone who is a drowning advocate now wants to be part of the WLSL," said.

The WWA created the WLSL in 2010 as a platform to help aquatic facilities and the many different regional, national and international water safety organisations work together to communicate the fundamental importance of teaching children to swim.

Now in its fifth year, this global event – scheduled for June 20 – has reached more than 50,000 participants in live events and spread the word that swimming lessons save lives to more than 100 million children and adults around the world.

"The WWA created the WLSL event, but we believe that the reason it has been so successful and why it is being recognised with a Lighthouse Award is due to the fact that the drowning prevention community has embraced it wholeheartedly since it started," said Rick Root, WWA president.

"Our outstanding supporting organisations, media partners and thousands of host locations have made the WLSL event what it is today. And we thank them and the NDPA for their support and recognition."