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Okay, here's the story of how my ability to swim saved my life...
One of my husband's coworkers has a son who owns a catamaran (sp?). A couple of summers ago, coworker and son offered to take us both out on the water. Coworker's wife wisely stayed on dry land. So we went out a ways, and returned... it was fun. Coworker and son were trying to steer the boat back toward the dock... when it flipped over and all four of us were suddenly in the water. It was about 20 minutes before a yacht happened by and we were rescued. Did I mention, no life jackets... If I were unable to swim I'd be dead right now. Then again, if I were unable to swim I wouldn't have gone out there in the first place. |
Since we've established that panic is the main reason why people who can't swim drown...
I can swim, have been doing so since I was about 4 years old. I was a lifeguard throughout high school, so I didn't even have to take the mandatory swimming classes - my high school will not graduate anyone who cannot swim! I also taught swimming lessons for three years. |
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Yes, I know how to swim.
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Yep. Swam competitively (about 5 hours a day!) on two teams in high school. Was supposed to swim in college but a shoulder injury killed that dream.
I also worked in pool management - I'm a head lifeguard at my college rec center and I worked as a swim lessons coordinator at a YMCA. I'm a Red Cross lifeguard instructor as well. As so many people have said, the main cause of drowning is panic. I've been teaching swimming lessons for about 6 years, and far and away the best advice I can give is for parents to give their children lessons as young as possible. It's easier for young kids to learn and it teaches long-term drowning prevention. |
Swim all the time.
I do have to say, that after being in the army and going through drown proofing....some stereotypes do seem to be awfully true. |
1) Can you swim?
2) How is it that people drown because they can't swim? Meaning, it doesn't seem too terribly difficult to at least tread water - plus, we're born able to swim. 1) Yes I can. I am a triathlete, competitive swimmer, and a lifeguard and swim instructor. 2) Drowning often DOESNT happen because people *can't* swim. Drowning happens usually because a swimmer overestimates his/her ability, over/under estimates the depth of the water, enters in an inproper fashion (i.e. headfirst in water where you can't see the bottom), or has been consuming alcohol. Most drownings or aquatic emergencies happen in water UNDER 10 ft. deep. Most children who are learning to swim will bob till they can stand on their tippy toes, and due to drifting..they will go slightly out of their reach, go under, and panic. They forget how to swim and resort to the "instinct" of pushing their arms up and down to get their head out of the water at any costs (that's why on TV people who are drowning don't just slip under the water). I agree that teaching children PROPER swimming technique as early as possible is KEY to getting them to be profficient swimmers. The importance of getting kids to PUT THEIR FACE IN THE WATER!! Cannot be stressed enough. Head in the water= proper body position and improved floatation! Head out of the water means that the hips/legs/bum is pointed at the bottom of the pool, acting like a sandbag and making swimming exhausting. Also, knowing how to swim as a parent should be important too, not only so you set a good example, but in case your child is ever in an emergency. |
What she said. I learned to swim in my mid 20s, but still get the heebies when I am near deep water. If my feet can't touch the bottom, I am like "Oh SH*T!"
I would like to take a refresher course or 2. I am also one of the first to learn to swim in my family. My mother and grandmother had friends and family members drown and won't go near water. My uncle made sure his kids learn to swim at an early age because of his mother's fear. Mr. 1228's kid is a so so swimmer, he took lessons when he was younger. If Mr. 1228 and I have kids, that kid will learn to swim before they can walk!!!! Gwyn, I feel ya about the hair. Thankful I have braids! :) Quote:
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yep i can swim but i didn't figure it out until i was 'bout 8 - i could dog paddle, float, and tread before that, just not actually swim with proper technique...
- marissa |
Yes. I grew up swimming in my grandparents' pool. I am not sure when I learned. It's just always been something I have known how to do for as long as I can remember.
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I think I was 6 or 7 when I learned how to swim. I LOVE swimming, but I have bad ears so i could never really do it on a regular basis. Even with the ear plugs I ger water and it's just bad.
I think some people don't give their children lessons because they are afraid of the cost, and haven't heard about free or low cost programs that may be available. |
I have always loved the water and had lessons as a kid. We also had swimming in high school and had to stay in it until we passed We had to do 4 lengths of the pool in each of the 4 strokes we learned, so 16 lengths total. We also had to do a 10 minute survival float and demonstrate some rescue skills with others. I thought everybody had swimming in school at some point! Perhaps that's a regional thing.
My kids didn't have swimming lessons until two years ago, although they both loved the water as much as I did. They were in the pool with me from early ages and I taught them how to float. Swimming lessons in this area are hard to find during evening hours, so only kids of stay at homes could take them. Thankfully, we have a wonderful summertime babysitter who took them along with her daughter so they've now passed the Red Cross levels 2, 3 and 4 and are both decent swimmers. My daughter will have swimming in middle school gym. Glitter: Try an equal mixture of alcohol, vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. A few drops in the ear after each time you swim will dry up the water that gets stuck in there. My son's pediatrician taught us this trick after he had swimmer's ear a couple times and it works great for him. They sell things over the counter that do the same thing now, but it's easier with stuff you have on hand all the time anyway! Dee |
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