Drowning Tragedies

[Asiel]

Swam like a fish since the age of five. Summers were spent at the cottage and if we wanted to be in the "big" lake we had to know how to swim or we had to swim in the boat pool. That was enough incentive for us to learn.My kids also learned to swim by that age. We spent hours out on the lake and no way was I taking chances with kids who didn't know how to fend in the water.

[RICHARD]

I read a book.

I swear to george, that is how I learned.

[Asiel]

I read a book.

I swear to george, that is how I learned.

By reading a book?? So how and where did you practice the strokes? Might you have lived in the city of Atlantis ?

[RICHARD]

By reading a book?? So how and where did you practice the strokes? Might you have lived in the city of Atlantis ?

My brother was in the Boy Scouts and I was looking at the "learn to swim" section. We had a dam/swimming area up the street from the house and I practiced there.

[lizbud]

I'm not a strong swimmer, but I can swim. Took lessions as a kid in
a Indy park. I think Red Cross sponsered it. I took both my kids to lessons
at the YMCA. They can swim like fish.

[moosmom]

I learned as a child how to swim. Every summer we'd go to Bolton Lake. That's where I learned to swim. From there I joined the swim team at Goodwin Park Pool in Hartford. Only problem was I kept hitting my head (might answer alot of questions that no one bothered, like doctors, to ask me). Once on the pool side, once on a table leaf). That might account for alot.

[Alysser]

I had swimming lessons at a young age, but they didn't help me. It eventually just became natural and now I cannot get enough of swimming. I LOVE IT whether it be ocean or my pool. I don't know about saving a life...never tried that one yet but I am a pretty strong swimmer.

[mruffruff]

I had a couple of bad experiences when I was very young. Both scared me. Still I took swimming in high school-twice. Failed both times. Seems I'm built with lead inside. I can swim, but only underwater.

At times I'd like to be able to swim, but I'm not a "beach" kind of person anyway.

Everyone in SC likes to 'go to the beach' in the summer. I'd rather go to the mountains. So what am I doing here?!

[IRescue452]

I *can* swim, but not very far. I have heart troubles and swimming exhausts me fast. I love water though.

I think adults forget how little water can actually sweep you under in a good current. We had several drownings in WI this year from adults going out to sandbars and getting swept under. That case of the 9 year old drowning after her kayak being blown in the water mad me very angry though. The parents said they didn't make her wear a life jacket because she was a good swimmer. She's 9 years old!!! An adult can drown easily when taken by surprise. I can't imagine a 9 year old wouldn't start to panic a little after the wind pushed her kayak from shore.

[wanwan1007]

I can't swim. I love the water. I guess I'm one of those cases that needs to be careful. I took lessons at the Y when I was younger but stopped going when it was time to jump of the diving board because I was scared of heights . I've signed up twice at my local gym and both time the classes were cancelled . When I went to Bermuda on a missions trip I tried to learn. I was told that I have "lazy legs". I'm not going to give up though. I'm determined to learn because even though I don't live near water I love the beach.

[Suki Wingy]

I can't imagine not being able to swim. I've been doing it as far back as I can remember. I even took a scuba and a lifeguarding class.

[JALB]

I must admit, I have a pretty bad fear of deep water. All my brothers have learned to swim. I'm the odd one out. I too hope I'll never have to wish I'd learned. Part of the reason for this fear could be an experience I had as a one-year-old, where I ended up face-down in the water on one of the pool steps, after which my mom says I never wanted to put my face in the water again. That still stands to this day.

[Vette]

I never really had the opportunity to learn. hoping that changes soon so that i can go swimming during the hotter parts of the year an if we if go camping near a lake itd be nice be able to swim.

also if you have dog/s an a swimming pool its best to teach your dog/s where the ends are to get out as some dogs have been known to paddle endlessly at the border/edge of the pool an get tired an drown cuz they didnt know how to get out of the pool

[Karen]

I never really had the opportunity to learn. hoping that changes soon so that i can go swimming during the hotter parts of the year an if we if go camping near a lake itd be nice be able to swim.

also if you have dog/s an a swimming pool its best to teach your dog/s where the ends are to get out as some dogs have been known to paddle endlessly at the border/edge of the pool an get tired an drown cuz they didnt know how to get out of the pool

Never thought of that lst part, but that's interesting to learn.

Definitely find a teacher and learn to swim, it's so worth it!