Six-year-old Makayla Simmons gripped the edge of the pool as she took a breath during a swimming lesson at Frances Meadows Aquatic and Community Center.She was one of 89 children participating in the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson on Thursday morning at the Gainesville center.Thousands of children around the world took to the water at exactly 11 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time in what could set a new Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous swimming lesson.Last year, the record was set with more than 20,000 participants worldwide.The 45-minute lesson covered everything from basic safety to the freestyle stroke.Two public safety officials were present to witness the event and sign off on each of the participants to make sure the number was legitimate.The effort was designed to raise awareness that swimming lessons save lives.According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 10 people die every day from unintentional drowning. Children 4 and younger have the highest drowning rates. One of the main risk factors is not knowing how to swim.“This is a really fantastic event that gives kids the exposure to water safety and then to the water in general and not to be afraid of it and to get oriented to it,” certified Red Cross water safety instructor Carol Werner said.Werner taught the beginning level students at the shallow end of the pool.