Drowning Tragedies

[todd]

No, never had the opportunity

[Bonny]

I can dog paddle is all & not for long then I sink. I always wear a life jacket when out on the river or lake.

[Laura's Babies]

We had 6 drown last week, all kids (Teens I think) from the same family, cousins. The adults were on the bank, a family gathering of families. Not a one knew how to swim, only one went to help and he drowned also. The kids went into the water and stepped off into 20 foot deep sudden slope. That was SO sad!

[chocolatepuppy]

When I was in 6th grade, if I remember correctly, the school sent us to the YMCA for swimming lessons. I feel I can swim good enough to save my life, although I haven't been swimming in years.

[K9karen]

If my feetsies don't touch the ground...well... panic!

I'm not afraid of the water. Although I almost drowned as a child (miracle I was saved and survived..jumped back in WITH a float. Must have dreamt I could swim, ran ahead of the family and dived in without a float ) I can swim underwater just fine. Can doggy paddle with the best (Logan's cousin Gizmo the Beagle). I just sink no matter how hard I try. I swear, it's on my bucket list: MUST LEARN HOW TO SWIM!

[Karen]

If my feetsies don't touch the ground...well... panic!

I'm not afraid of the water. Although I almost drowned as a child (miracle I was saved and survived..jumped back in WITH a float. Must have dreamt I could swim, ran ahead of the family and dived in without a float ) I can swim underwater just fine. Can doggy paddle with the best (Logan's cousin Gizmo the Beagle). I just sink no matter how hard I try. I swear, it's on my bucket list: MUST LEARN HOW TO SWIM!

Longer strokes are better than doggy paddle - have you tried floating on your back? That might be good to practice, always in a shallow enough area so that you can stand if you start to panic. Were you closer, I'd volunteer to teach you to swim, a lot of it has to do with breathing, relaxing and not panicking - and I bet it would feel nice on your back to just float in the water.

[K9karen]

Longer strokes are better than doggy paddle - have you tried floating on your back? That might be good to practice, always in a shallow enough area so that you can stand if you start to panic. Were you closer, I'd volunteer to teach you to swim, a lot of it has to do with breathing, relaxing and not panicking - and I bet it would feel nice on your back to just float in the water.

Funny, eh, that I CAN swim on my back, just not the other way around. I sink like a lead balloon. It's embarrasing. That's why my tootsies must be touching the bottom. I open my eyes under water, no fear of getting my face wet, etc. Mental block??

[sasvermont]

I learned to swim at an early age. I lived in the Chesapeake Bay (Maryland) area and had access to the water all summer long. We were made to take lessons from the earliest age possible, lessons given by the Red Cross. I still have my Beginner Swimmer button handed out at the end of the summer. I made it through Senior Life Saving. As I recall, the lessons were tough. We swam in all types of weather. A couple of times they nearly drown us, making us swim during hurricane like weather. It was worth it.

I still have a healthy respect for water. You just never know what is below you when swimming. Diving is another story. You can really do some damage diving in unknown water.

I strongly suggest that everyone give their children lessons of some sort.

As far as I know, the lessons were free. I wonder if they are still offered these days? Probably not.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I took swimming lessons at an early age. We always lived where we could go to a community swimming pool. We would also go to the beach and to sometimes to the lakes too. At the community pool in S.C. you had to pass a swimming test before you'd be allowed to go to the pool without an adult. I had to tread water for several minutes and I had to be able to swim the length of the pool. Later on when I was older I also took a life saving course but that was so long ago that I've forgotten most of it. I've always enjoyed swimming but I haven't been in quite a while even though I have two pools where I live. I do think it's important for everyone to learn to how to swim. It could save your life some day.