Do you know how to swim?

[IronLionZion]

You're not going to graduate from my local high school if you don't learn how to swim. (unless you are in a wheelchair or something) Swimming is an essential survival skill and everyone at my school was required to take lessons every year in gym class since around third grade. I'm not sure why but it was drilled into us that if we don't know how to swim we are going to die.

Yet in many other places, especially in schools that didn't have pools, there are a lot of folks who still don't know how to swim or even tread water. I think that is an astonishing thing and I'm surprised they managed to stay alive this long.

[billyskank]

1. I so take it for granted that I forget that everybody doesn't know how

[Shine]

23. Ditto.

:hi: :hug:

[billyskank]

28. Hey you

:hug:

:hi:

[Shine]

30. How ya doin?

It's raining here today and I'm lazy.

Plus, as of today, I'm officially the parent of a TEENAGER. :scared: How is this possible???

:hi:

[billyskank]

32. Not so great

By the way, that is completely impossible. There must have been some speed-of-light-relativity incident or something. Otherwise there is no way I will ever believe you have a teenage son.

[Shine]

38. LOL! Hugs and love to you, sweetheart.

:hug: :loveya: :hug: and NOT just because you gave me a compliment, either.

Whatever "not great" thing you're experiencing, billyskank, I hope it passes quickly.

Don't forget, you've got friends here. :hug: I'm your friend. :pals:

[terrya]

2. Not very well.

Let's just say I don't go swimming.

[BarenakedLady]

3. I was a lucky kid

we had a backyard pool. I could swim like a fish. Our schools didn't have pools.

I'm glad my kids' school does, since we don't have a pool for them to learn in.

[reyd reid reed]

4. It's not pushed as hard here, but yeah...

the kids have to take at least a semester of swimming as part of their PE credit if they want to graduate. And they have to be able to avoid drowning if they want to pass the class.

When I went to school, way back in the dark ages, none of the schools I went to had pools so it wasn't a requirement but I think it's a good idea.

And, even though it wasn't a requirement, I could swim like a fish -- I still love it, it's just that it involves putting on a swimsuit and going out in public like that, so I don't do it as much.

[Haole Girl]

5. Everybody should learn how to swim.

Every year, hundreds (if not thousands) of people drown needlessly because they can't swim.

[Xenotime]

83. They should just stay away from water...

If you are in a rushing flood, you are probably going to die anyway.

[bigwillq]

6. YES!

:bounce:

[MissMillie]

7. I thought I knew how until I decided to do a sprint-triathlon

and then realized very quickly that I really can't go very far at all in the water.

[TheBaldyMan]

8. I sort of don't drown, wouldn't really call it swimming

[momophile]

22. me too.

I can't tread water, but I can float on my back and do a couple of basic very weak strokes.

[querelle]

9. Yes

I also worked as a lifeguard when I was in high school and taught swimming to children 6-12 at a local community pool.

Q

[seemunkee]

10. Didn't learn until I was in high school

It would have been mortifying for me to take it in school, I tried and failed many times when I was younger. I can swim fairly well now

[swimboy]

11. Oddly enough, I do!

[querelle]

12. I Would Never Have Guessed.............n/t

[billyskank]

39. Awesome

:woohoo:

[swimboy]

41. That's me and MadAsHellNewYorker on vacation!

}(


Hi billy! :hug:

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

50. Luckily, we got that one g-rated pic to post

:evilgrin:

[genie_weenie]

13. Heck Yeah. Just like a fish needs a bicycle!

wait...

[kmla]

14. I swim like the old Bob Seger tune.

Like a Rock.

So, the answer would be no.

[hunter]

15. If I couldn't swim I couldn't play in the ocean.

That would be awful.

My favorite place is bobbing around in a clean breaking surf just a little bit taller than I am.

Wheeeeeeeee!

[NewWaveChick1981]

16. My mother started me on swimming lessons when I was 3.

She did the same for my siblings. Mom put us through all of the YMCA swimming courses, and my siblings and I are excellent swimmers. I got my Red Cross Lifeguard certification and then my Water Safety Instructor certification, and I was a lifeguard for two summers (after my junior and senior years in high school). I taught swimming lessons to kids and adults both times. :)

It's a skill you don't forget. I haven't had pool access for about a year now, but I swim when I can.

Edited to add: Forgot to say that none of the schools I attended had pools, but we had YMCA memberships. When I got to college, nobody could graduate without demonstrating they could swim. I passed the freshman swim test in a heartbeat, but there were a lot of people who couldn't. They were required to take swimming lessons as their PE. I took modern dance and fencing instead. :P

[IronLionZion]

31. My school's pool was owned by the YMCA

and was used as a community pool. The Y did a fantastic job of taking care of it. It was nasty before the Y bought it.

Oddly enough I went to a university that was larger than my hometown but they had only 1 very crowded pool so I rarely went. I've never heard of a college requiring swimming but it's a good idea. I took yoga and golf instead but there were swim classes available.

[anarch]

17. I know how to not immediately drown if thrown into water

but I wouldn't really say I know how to swim.

[azmouse]

18. I almost drown twice when I was a kid.

Once when I was just a baby so I don't remember it and once when I was about 8. I'm much too afraid of water to learn to swim. I can't stand water in my face any more.

And believe it or not... and I'm sure this sounds borderline insane... I have a diving pool in my backyard (most homes in the Phoenix area have pools so it's not so strange from that point of view). I will get in it but never, ever alone and only with people I trust to not try to get me underwater.

[skygazer]

59. I'm in the same boat as you, azmouse

And I'll stay in the boat, thank you very much!

I'll go in the water but only when no one else is near me. And I can float on my back so my strategy if I'm ever on an ocean liner that sinks is to flip onto my back and float until rescued.

And why is it so many people find it funny to splash water in other people's faces? :grr:

[nickinSTL]

19. I said "other"..

because I can, but...very badly.

Throw me out of a boat not too far from shore and I won't die...at least for a while...but it'll take me somewhere near forever to manage to get all the way to shore...I think I'm the world's slowest swimmer.

[Patiod]

20. Friend complained about having to learn, then 2 friends drowned

A friend of mine at college used to complain that Penn State was in the dark ages because they required her to learn how to swim in order to graduate. She was a city girl, and like my S.O., never learned how to swim.

Two years later, she and a bunch of her friends went out to a quarry for a cookout after their shifts ended at their restaurant.

Two of her girlfriends (one who I had heard complain about the swimming requirement) went missing, and were found drowned the next day. Both were sensible girls, weren't drinkers/druggies and wouldn't have done anything gratuitously stupid, so the theory was that one of them missed her footing in the dark, and the other went in after her.

I've told that story to S.O. many times, and finally got him to the point that he can at least tread water and do a serviceable doggy paddle. EVERYONE should be able to stay afloat - you may think you can avoid a water situation, but you may be wrong.

[NewWaveChick1981]

25. OMG! I'm so sorry about that. Even strong swimmers can have problems

if the current is strong enough or if the water is fast enough. :scared: Everyone needs to at least know how to stay afloat. :hug:

[Patiod]

40. This was a quarry - still water

A little cold, but not too bad

I'm glad my friend stayed by the fire with the rest of the group, but was sick to hear what happened to her two friends.

You're right - everyone should be able to float, and at least doggy-paddle or back-paddle to get back to safety.

[Haole Girl]

68. I have heard many stories like this...

...they are sad...and senseless. :-(

[evlbstrd]

21. I do.

Oddly, in Navy boot camp, we obviously had to prove we could swim, but very many of the guys couldn't swim and stood crying on the diving board. Why someone who can't swim would join the Navy, I just don't understand.

[IronLionZion]

35. hehe, there are navy guys who LOATHE the water and get sea sick.

I know some guys who got technical jobs with the navy on bases but can't stand to be on boats for any amount of time. Same thing with the air force and planes.

[evlbstrd]

36. I got seasick,

but only on small craft. Never on board ship. Did those sailors expect never to go to sea?

[momophile]

24. I might live for awhile if I found myself in deep water

but if a large fish or, god forbid, a shark touched me, I'd die of panic - seriously.

[fizzgig]

26. schools here don't have pools

so that was never part of our PE classes. i took swimming lessons when i was younger so, in theory, i can swim but in reality, not that well.

[billyskank]

29. Hey!

:hug:

:loveya:

[fizzgig]

33. ...

:hug: back atcha

:*

[billyskank]

34. ....

:* back at you.

[YankeyMCC]

27. My high school had (still has I think) the same requirement

Yet somehow my wife got through without knowing how to swim even though she had to go to the classes. :shrug:

[WritingIsMyReligion]

37. Of course I do. It seems alien to me that people don't.

No offense meant, of course. You just get so used to it, especially living right near the ocean...

:crazy:

[Karenca]

42. It's alien to me as well----swimming is

a natural motor skill we all possess. Like running is ? :shrug:

[Oeditpus Rex]

47. So is swinging a baseball bat or a golf club

Or jumping to spike a volleyball or shooting a free throw or punting a football or a hundred other things that relatively few people do.

You've left out one important element: Not everyone has a reason to swim, or a desire to.

[Karenca]

49. I don't know why you brought up

the "desire" or "reason" to swim.

All I'm saying is that it is a natural human ability to know HOW to swim.

Therefore, I find it odd that some cannot. If you put a baby in water, they'll naturally swim.
I don't understand what happens in the brain when someone
is afraid of water. I'm not a doctor, so I wouldn't even go there.
But it certainly is a natural ability that we are all born with.:shrug:

[Oeditpus Rex]

60. So's crawling

If you put a baby on the floor, it'll crawl, too.

I crawl when I have a reason to, like if I'm working under the house or something. I have no reason to swim because I live on dry land.

It may be a natural ability — though I'd question that — but since I don't use it, I've lost it. And I have no need to get it back.

[cwydro]

43. I live in Florida

surrounded by water on a 2 by 4 island and I cannot believe how many people don't know how to swim who live here and have lived here all their lives.

[buddhamama]

44. i am a very good swimmer

i learned to swim as a small child. i've been called a fish.

[Aristus]

45. I used to swim competitively.

Wasn't much good though. If you Google "world's worst racing swimmer", they'll probably have a pic of me. B-)

[IronLionZion]

48. No, it returns my pic

the fact that I suck at most sports never stopped me from competing!

[Bridget Burke]

46. I do OK in a swimming pool.

But would never go out in a small boat without a life jacket.

[SoyCat]

55. I love to swim but would never consider going out in a boat w/out a life jacket. It's just the safe

thing to do. I'm glad you always wear one.

[BreweryYardRat]

51. Pretty well.

Not swim-team well, but I get by just fine.

[Broken_Hero]

52. Yep, I sure do...

I'm a little island in SE Alaska, the water was a part of our lives...so we had to learn to swim in elementary school, everyone...

[Truebrit71sbruv]

53. I voted other... because I simply...

... walk on water... :evilgrin:

[bertha katzenengel]

54. I can float on my back, and I can do a wimpy freestyle, but don't know how to breathe.

And I can body surf. I look like two white dolphins in a blue suit, but no, that's me, body surfing. :7

[Reverend_Smitty]

56. I do, but I had a professor in college who didn't

we had him for several classes and in one of the classes we had a lesson on aquatic therapy techniques, he had someone else come in and teach it for him...but we busted his chops relentlessly for it :)

[Kerrytravelers]

57. I was on a swim team for nine years.

I grew up in the North Bay Area of San Francisco. We swam year around- outdoors. Nothing can be colder than a winter morning in the outdoor pool.

I was just at Junior National times when I blew out my knees and thus ended a swimming career and any college scholarships it might have brought. I wasn't going to get the the Olympics, but I might have at least paid partially for college.


My claim to fame? I shared a lane with Pablo Morales in a warm up pool. I was 12 and he completely smoked me. Oh well, he was cute!



I forgot to add that on our team, once we hit 10 (I think) they required us to take the Red Cross swimming and life saving course and pass it. Then, we used that skill and volunteered to help with the local Special Olympics meets. We'd get in the water and swim with the Special Olympics participants. They had one of those safety belts on with the flotation devices, but we were there to assist them and make them feel safe. It is truly some of my fondest memories.

[IronLionZion]

58. Interesting results from this poll

it looks like roughly 80% of respondents know this important life skill. Good for you. Swimming is fun, but is good to know even if you never plan to go in water. Always be prepared for the worst.

And the 20% who don't know how to swim, please learn the basics ASAP. Many community pools, YMCA, colleges, etc. will teach you the basics. At least learn how to float and tread water. Then learn at least freestyle so that you can move if you fall out of a boat or something.

Remember you don't have to "plan to be in water" to end up in water. Boats can sink, planes can land in water, cars can crash into a body of water, or your child may decide to go jump in the local lake. Are you prepared to deal with it? Please learn how to swim. Your life depends on it. Everyone will end up in water sometime in their life.

[Oeditpus Rex]

61. 'Important life skill'

Yeah, okay. :shrug:

[IronLionZion]

62. it sure beats drowning IMHO

:shrug:

[Oeditpus Rex]

63. Tell me when I'll have the opportunity to drown

Flash flood, maybe? :shrug:

[Arugula Latte]

64. When the polar ice caps melt ...

you'll be sorry, Mister.

[Oeditpus Rex]

65. Meh

At that time, the gummint will issue duct tape and plastic sheeting to all citizens, with instructions for making floatation devices.

[IronLionZion]

76. you won't know when

what if a loved one falls in the water and you are the only one around and there is no time to call for help? It is important. We don't want to lose you buddy.

[Patiod]

72. We don't want to lose you, OR

See my story, above

Friends went to a bonfire at a quarry - two went for a walk and weren't seen again until their bodies were found.

As mentioned, neither drank or drugged, so authorities assumed that one fell into the quarry, and the other tried to help her.

You never know. Better to be safe. I wish they were still around - we want you around, too, OR.

[NJ Democrats]

66. Yes I know how

Also, my school doesn't have a pool. The swim team has to go 1/2 hr away for 'home' meets

[Mutley]

67. I do know how to swim but

I don't see why it has to be an important life skill. If one doesn't Need to swim, and doesn't Like to swim, then there's no reason for one to Learn to swim, is there?

[IronLionZion]

78. you don't have to want it

to find yourself or a loved one in water. Kids like water. If you have kids, what if they go jump in a lake/ocean and you are the only one close by? People get thrown off of boats all the time. You can slip while hiking and land in water.


It is a survival skill. You can learn it and then never go near water again if you don't want to.

[azmouse]

79. I really think you're over-reacting to this whole swimming thing.

You can't get away from all risks. Life is full of them.

I don't know how to swim and I will never, ever learn.
I'm terrified of water.
I accept the risk.
I'm an adult.

[IronLionZion]

80. OK

:hi:

Driving is one of the riskiest activities there is and I do it everyday.

[Nikia]

69. I started lessons as a baby

I started swimming competively at age 8. I quit swimming competively at 16 in order to concentrate on running. I don't swim often now, but it is second nature to me. I prefer open water swimming because it is boring to have to turn every 20-30 seconds when swimming laps and never was good at flip turns during competition. I do have this strange fear though that a fish will try to eat me.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

70. Know how to swim... was a guard myself.... BUT...

Still, I got into serious trouble in Hawaii- caught btw a rip current and lava rock formation. Was preparing to get gored on the rocks when a wave went over top of me- into snorkle. While coughing, and thinking that I was going to die, I grabbed onto the person I was swimming with to grab a breath. We decided to dive and see if we could cut under what was causing the rip current- going further out to sea. We made it. All of a sudden, it was calm again and we were able to float for a few minutes to recover before heading back to shore.

[KamaAina]

71. Sure do

but then again, I'm white :sarcasm:

[Redstone]

73. Yes, but I don't enjoy it. I consider it a survival skill, not a sport.

Redstone

[deadparrot]

74. Yep, lots of swimming lessons during my childhood. nt

[astral]

75. I can doggy-paddle

and fell off a boat once and at least knew I wouldn't sink. My fear of learning to swim right was water in teh ears and a scary earache from the swimming pool. They took me, who they knew could barely doggy paddle, and force me to jump off the high dive at the pool, just like everybody else. I am very wimpy of ladders, and so walking climbing up and walking the plank was terrifying enough, but having to fall deep into water, I felt like I could barely hold my breath long enough to get back to the surface without drowning.

It was truly terrifying. I never did it again, but I will (rarely) swim outdoors in the ocean if it's warm enough out, but swimming pools gross me out.

So, I guess I can swim . . . But I couldn't swim very far!

[Ms_Dem_Meanor]

77. I can swim...

enough to save mey life and someone else if I have to. I just hope that it never comes to that.

[Kire]

81. I guess I wouldn't graduate.

I am afraid of the water.

[eyepaddle]

82. My roll isn't always as perfect as the happy guy in my sig's is.

I've had to bail out the boat on a number of occasions. Yes, I always wear a PFD but having my hobby and NOT being able to swim would be kind of insane!

Plus, my middle school had a pool--though my High School didn't.