Can You Swim?

[Tom Earp]

Back when Money Was Precious, I could not swim a lick.

My Mom Said I would learn to swim and told Dad So! Guess who won!

Took me to the YMCA via Bus and never did learn to swim a lick.

Fast forward a bit: Boy Scout Camp. Had to learn how to swim to get Safety Merit Badge.

Guys made fun of me and I Broke My Toenail and was on crutches. Still fun made of the gimp and the crip.

Screw Them, I passed the Senior Life Saving Requiremts.

Swam on the High School Swim Team. Tall guys always won! Longer than I was.! I was 5" 4', Terry was 6' 2".

But what people dont realize, Float, Float. That is the way to consearve energy. Lay back and take gulps of air, lay Your Head back and relax!

If wearing Long Pants, strip them off, Tie the legs in a knot.m Throw them oin the air and gather it.

Why, makes a hell of a float.

Water is a relaxing sensation.


PM_Mama00.

just let the water flow and relax!

Of course winnieb, grew up on a farm and had no where else to take a bathe!

Her and The Moo Moos!

[aephi alum]

Yes, I can swim. I didn't learn how to swim until I was 12, although several people tried to teach me. I just couldn't coordinate my arms, legs, and breathing, and a few experiences inhaling water put me off trying. Then, one summer, I decided I was learning to swim - and I did it.

I agree with RACooper. People drown because they panic, or because weather conditions keep them from safety, or because there is some physical reason that they cannot swim. That can happen whether you know how to swim or not.

[christiangirl]

I learned to swim when I was about 4 or so.

[RedRoseSAI]

I can swin, although not very well. Like PM_Mama, I prefer it when my feet can touch the ground.

[DolphinChicaDDD]

1. Yes I can swim. I also spent many summers (and winters in college) as a lifegaurd, where they taught us

2. People drown because they panic, and they start flailing and trying to grab onto something, which puts you in an upright position. When you swim, you need to be almost parallel with the water and even when you tread water you're making foward progress. The drowing person can't get the thrusting movement it takes to support themself in the water.

eta: I learned to swim waaaaaaay back in the day. My mom taught those Mommy and Me swimming classes where the kids learn how to do tricks like swim under mom's legs and hoopes and stuff. She freaked out my grandma (who can't swim) by throwing me in the pool one day.

[preciousjeni]

Originally posted by TheEpitome1920
I can't swim/tread water. But I have learned how to float on my back. I figure that may be helpful until I learn how to swim properly.

See now, that makes sense to me. At least you can handle yourself in the water.

As far as people drowning in adverse circumstances - drinking, currents, disability, etc. - I understand that. But, it's the people that drown in pools and calm lakes that I feel so bad about.

BTW - Have y'all seen Open Water?

[amycat412]

1) yes, since I was 3 or so. We had a pool in the backyard, it was a necessity. I was a lifeguard in high school.

2) as many others have stated panic and fear.

[Munchkin03]

1). Yes. Our old house was on the water, so it would have been stupid for me not to know.

2). Like everyone's saying, panic.

[ZTAngel]

Yes.
Many kids in Florida are taught how to swim at a very young age. I was 2 when I went to swimming lessons. With all the water in Florida (pools, canals, ocean), kids are taught to swim for safety reasons.

[Senusret I]

I can't swim.

[bluefish81]

Yes, I can swim, but not very well. One of these days I'm going to sign up for some lessons at the Y or something. I'm a fan of the areas of the pool where I can either touch the ground or can almost touch the ground.

[Rio_Kohitsuji]

I've known how to swim since I was around 3-4ish, wasn't any good, but I knew how

However, I don't feel comfortable w/swimming in an area where I can't see the bottom. That comes from one getting her feet caught in seaweed too many times....

[UKTriDelt]

I didn't know there were people who didn't know how to swim! I've never met anyone who can't.. so this is enlightening. What do y'all who can't swim do in the summertime? I was a swim/dive team member when I was younger at the country club but as I've gotten older I've developed a phobia of pool bottoms. So I either get in verrrry slowly, making sure there's nothing on the bottom at all, or stay in the deep end where I can't touch. I can't even stand to touch the bottom of my own pool.. I'm so weird

[Peaches-n-Cream]

I heard that story on the news. They found the boy's body. I think that he probably panicked because he didn't know how to swim. I am not sure about the conditions of the water in that area so I don't know if that was a factor or not.

I know a healthy, young man who drowned because he was caught in the rip tide and didn't know what to do. I think that panic was a factor as well.

1. Yes I can swim. Thank you CYO.

2. I think panic, water conditions, and inexperience are the main factors in drowning.

[ms_gwyn]

1) Yes I can swim.... I taught myself how to swim under water and then I had about 2 lessons on how to swim on top of water and then I had a "private" tutor b/c I was more advanced than the others after those two days of learning how to swin on top.

2) I almost drowned as a kid, I was floating in a tube, I got out and thought I could float without the tube....needless to say I was wrong I remember it like it was yesterday, my dad jumped into the pool to save me.

My dad and both my sisters know how to swim, my mother doesn't.

At one point in my life (very briefly) I was considered a very promising competetive swimmer...long story short, I really didn't want to deal with my hair.