A Brooklyn foundation provided free swimming lessons to residents Monday as part of International Water Safety Awareness Day.

The Swim Strong Foundation's mission is to turn every person into a swimmer, according to its founder, Shawn Slevin.

According to Slevin, a person drowns every 70 seconds.

Slevin says that many people don't learn how to swim because they don't have the means for lessons.

"Swimming often is not affordable for many families in New York City," Slevin says. "On average, a lesson will cost a dollar a minute."

People of all ages were welcome to participate in the event. Slevin says students as young as three and as old as 86 attended the event.

Besides the safety aspect of learning how to swim, Slevin says swimming  is also a good workout.