Current Events > I can't wrap my head around people who can't swim.

(+) Yeah! (+)

I can swim fine but can't keep afloat in place for very long, so if I'm not swimming I'm soon sinking.

Hejiru posted...

It does seem weird that we dont instinctively know how to at least tread water. You would think that natural selection would make us more adept in the water, especially considering how long weve lived near coastlines.

Treading water came very instinctively for most of the people in my lifeguard training course, and almost all of us had never taken swimming lessons.

voldothegr8 posted...

I can swim fine but can't keep afloat in place for very long, so if I'm not swimming I'm soon sinking.

Yeah I'm the same way for some reason.

A lot of folks don't know how to swim.
What kind of topic is this?

https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/drowning-can-actually-be-silent-and-fast-the-importance-of-knowing-how-to-swim-as-an-adult/

Key snippet:

"People thought they were better swimmers than they actually were," explained Nicole Roschella of the American Red Cross in Pittsburgh. "Eighty-five-percent of Americans said they could swim, but then only a little over half of those people could perform the five basic skills for water competency."
That means almost half, 44-percent to be specific, cannot accomplish those skills to save their lives while in the water.
In order to test your confidence, here's what a U.S. Navy Diver showed us:

• Being able to step or jump into water that's over your head, and being able to come up to the surface while breathing in a relaxed manner.
• Float and tread water for one minute.
• Being able to turn around and find an exit out of the water.
• Swimming 25 yards to the exit out of the water.
• Being able to get yourself out of the water if it's a pool, being able to push yourself out without the help of the ladder.

It's the last two that challenge casual swimmers - if you have never learned to swim you don't need to join a class for 4-year-olds.

BombermanGold posted...

A lot of folks don't know how to swim.
What kind of topic is this?

https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/drowning-can-actually-be-silent-and-fast-the-importance-of-knowing-how-to-swim-as-an-adult/

Key snippet:

"People thought they were better swimmers than they actually were," explained Nicole Roschella of the American Red Cross in Pittsburgh. "Eighty-five-percent of Americans said they could swim, but then only a little over half of those people could perform the five basic skills for water competency."
That means almost half, 44-percent to be specific, cannot accomplish those skills to save their lives while in the water.
In order to test your confidence, here's what a U.S. Navy Diver showed us:
* Being able to step or jump into water that's over your head, and being able to come up to the surface while breathing in a relaxed manner.
* Float and tread water for one minute.
* Being able to turn around and find an exit out of the water.
* Swimming 25 yards to the exit out of the water.
* Being able to get yourself out of the water if it's a pool, being able to push yourself out without the help of the ladder.
It's the last two that challenge casual swimmers - if you have never learned to swim you don't need to join a class for 4-year-olds.

Treading water for one minute isnt remotely difficult. Neither is lifting yourself out of a pool. Thats just being out of shape.

BlazinBlue88 posted...

Yes you can. If you hold your breath in your chest and not your mouth, your body will float just fine. The more you panic and thrash around, the easier you'll sink.

That's fascinating, I want to try this out. I always have a hard time treading water because I'm a weightlifter (so over 200 lbs but comparatively less body fat) and it feels like I sink quicker than my friends unless I tread water at a really quick pace, which burns me out.

LonelyStoner posted...

Treading water for one minute isnt remotely difficult. Neither is lifting yourself out of a pool. Thats just being out of shape.

You arrogantly claim that, but someone who's never been near a pool or body of water or even have family who are even remotely decent at swimming, how would a person who never swam before know that? And this is talking for someone who's of average (skinny) shape.

I was in a boating incident before I learned how to swim where somebody put me on an inflatable getting towed behind a boat and the thing flipped over in the wake of the boat. I was too young and too panicked to know that I should let go and let the life jacket float me. Instead I held on and got dragged underwater until somebody noticed.

Swimming lessons after that were never productive because I couldn't get over the phobia of being in the water. I still like boats but I don't swim.

I can swim enough to not drown in a pool but never felt comfortable in water. I took swim lessons when I was 5 or 6.

BombermanGold posted...

You arrogantly claim that, but someone who's never been near a pool or body of water or even have family who are even remotely decent at swimming, how would a person who never swam before know that? And this is talking for someone who's of average (skinny) shape.

These are extreme cases youre arguing for. Who tf hasnt been near a pool or body of water? This isnt arrogance, its instinct.

I never learned how to swim and probably never will but I love going to pools and beaches.

I just know how far I can go out into the water.

BombermanGold posted...

A lot of folks don't know how to swim.
What kind of topic is this?

https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/drowning-can-actually-be-silent-and-fast-the-importance-of-knowing-how-to-swim-as-an-adult/

Key snippet:

"People thought they were better swimmers than they actually were," explained Nicole Roschella of the American Red Cross in Pittsburgh. "Eighty-five-percent of Americans said they could swim, but then only a little over half of those people could perform the five basic skills for water competency."
That means almost half, 44-percent to be specific, cannot accomplish those skills to save their lives while in the water.
In order to test your confidence, here's what a U.S. Navy Diver showed us:
* Being able to step or jump into water that's over your head, and being able to come up to the surface while breathing in a relaxed manner.
* Float and tread water for one minute.
* Being able to turn around and find an exit out of the water.
* Swimming 25 yards to the exit out of the water.
* Being able to get yourself out of the water if it's a pool, being able to push yourself out without the help of the ladder.
It's the last two that challenge casual swimmers - if you have never learned to swim you don't need to join a class for 4-year-olds.

I can do all this, woo I'm elite

Swimming is not a natural instinct.

I paid way too much fucking money on swimming classes for my kids. But they are great swimmers.

I was listening to an audiobook, and the story had a navy, and some of the sailors couldn't swim. They had to have life preservers and ropes tied to them to bathe in the ocean. Why sign up for a water based job?

DrizztLink posted...

There's a reason that someone without training trying to save a drowning person often results in two drowning people.

My favorite story from a lifeguard I used to know was about a rescue in which he actually pulled a makeshift karate strike on the victim.

Story goes, when somebody is drowning, they forget how to swim properly (even if they knew how before) and just start trying to climb--the water, inflatable objects, unfortunate lifeguards and/or bystanders, etc. Well, one victim managed to grab hold of him as he was attempting a rescue and started trying to climb him, which of course pushed the lifeguard down under the water. So in an awkward turn of events he went from trying to save the guy to physically fighting to the death with him. He won the fight by striking him in the forehead with his palm, stunning him enough to finally do the usual procedure.

Seems kinda hard to believe that he could have been in that situation and managed to get them both out alive, but I always thought it was funny anyway.

BombermanGold posted...

A lot of folks don't know how to swim.
What kind of topic is this?

https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/drowning-can-actually-be-silent-and-fast-the-importance-of-knowing-how-to-swim-as-an-adult/

Key snippet:

"People thought they were better swimmers than they actually were," explained Nicole Roschella of the American Red Cross in Pittsburgh. "Eighty-five-percent of Americans said they could swim, but then only a little over half of those people could perform the five basic skills for water competency."
That means almost half, 44-percent to be specific, cannot accomplish those skills to save their lives while in the water.
In order to test your confidence, here's what a U.S. Navy Diver showed us:
* Being able to step or jump into water that's over your head, and being able to come up to the surface while breathing in a relaxed manner.
* Float and tread water for one minute.
* Being able to turn around and find an exit out of the water.
* Swimming 25 yards to the exit out of the water.
* Being able to get yourself out of the water if it's a pool, being able to push yourself out without the help of the ladder.
It's the last two that challenge casual swimmers - if you have never learned to swim you don't need to join a class for 4-year-olds.

I can do all that, but only the minute tread/float if I'm fresh. If I've been swimming I'll be lucky to keep my head up for 15 seconds.

Anyway, I definitely think I've lost buoyancy as I've aged. I don't remember overfilling my lungs to stay afloat as a kid.

I can't

Its annoying how people find that absurd, not everyone knows how to fight but that doesn't get as much flack not swimming

LonelyStoner posted...

Who tf hasnt been near a pool or body of water?

I was a boy scout summer camp counselor for 5 years.

Every year, for a week, we had "urban week" which is where a lot of the lower income, inner city kids who have literally never seen a daddy long legs in their life getting thrust into outdoor tents. Less than 10% of these kids knew how to swim, which also meant they weren't allowed in any sort of raft or canoe.

The counselors assigned to the pool and waterfront generally loathed that week, lmao. There was a lot to be vigilant for! But, after 1 or 2 hours per day for 5 days in a row, a good swath of them were able to doggy paddle and stay afloat in the deep end without freaking out and being a literal hazard to their friends. It was good progress was warm fuzzies across the board.

LonelyStoner posted...

In my lifeguard training my instructor chose me to try this on. Beforehand she told us that if someone panicking tries to climb on your head when youre attempting to save them, punch them in the nose as hard as possible.

I broke her nose and she wasnt mad at all.

This is literally a scene from The Guardian.

Did you steal this from The Guardian.

LonelyStoner posted...

These are extreme cases youre arguing for. Who tf hasnt been near a pool or body of water? This isnt arrogance, its instinct.

You're either lying or trolling.

Black people in the US historically have never been swimmers, mainly due to obvious racism (being kept from pools and the like).

Most folks that are land-locked and legit don't live near easy public pool access don't bother because there's no real reason to.

And even those who do wade into water don't know how to actually swim...

RetuenOfDevsman posted...

My favorite story from a lifeguard I used to know was about a rescue in which he actually pulled a makeshift karate strike on the victim.

Story goes, when somebody is drowning, they forget how to swim properly (even if they knew how before) and just start trying to climb--the water, inflatable objects, unfortunate lifeguards and/or bystanders, etc. Well, one victim managed to grab hold of him as he was attempting a rescue and started trying to climb him, which of course pushed the lifeguard down under the water. So in an awkward turn of events he went from trying to save the guy to physically fighting to the death with him. He won the fight by striking him in the forehead with his palm, stunning him enough to finally do the usual procedure.

You reminded me of a rather sad story here:
https://abcnews.go.com/WN/teens-drown-wading-louisianas-red-river/story?id=11312631

Six teenagers from two families drowned Monday in Shreveport, La.'s Red River while trying to save a friend who had slid into deeper waters.

Those who drowned were the Warners: Takeitha, 13; and her brothers, JaMarcus, 14; and JaTavious, 17. Their cousin, Dekendrix Warner, 15, was rescued. The others killed were the Stewarts: Litrelle, 18; LaDarius, 17; and Latevin, 15.

"I didn't see my daughter, but I could see my two sons saying, 'Help me, please,'" said Maude Warner, mother of Takeitha, JaMarcus and JaTavious.

The teenagers had been in a popular recreational area where sandbars give way to 20-foot depths. Neither the teenagers nor the adults watching from the riverbank could swim.

LonelyStoner posted...

Who tf hasnt been near a pool or body of water?

Lots of people, and it's incredibly arrogant and shortsighted to think otherwise.

Cant swim or ride a bike. Didnt go to pools very often, stayed in the shallow end when I did. Never owned a bike.

Kids who can't swim usually have parents who are afraid of the water

Euripides posted...

Kids who can't swim usually have parents who are afraid of the water

Noticed the same with people who are scared/uninformed with snakes.

HashtagSEP posted...

This is literally a scene from The Guardian.

Did you steal this from The Guardian.

Never seen it. She may have learned that teaching lesson from that movie. This was around 2007/2008.

Murphiroth posted...

Lots of people, and it's incredibly arrogant and shortsighted to think otherwise.

Shortsighted, maybe. Its not arrogant to know how to swim.

I find it a bit hard to believe somebody goes around getting their nose broken every class they teach, instead of teaching the concept in a way that... Doesn't end in getting your nose broken, and/or wearing a guard.

So I have to assume you're the dude from The Guardian.

HashtagSEP posted...

I find it a bit hard to believe somebody goes around getting their nose broken every class they teach, instead of teaching the concept in a way that... Doesn't end in getting your nose broken, and/or wearing a guard.

So I have to assume you're the dude from The Guardian.

I dont think its common for them, but she told us to do everything we could to get the person off and subdued long enough to bring them to flat ground. She held me under for a while and I panicked. She went through several scenarios from light to heavy in terms of severity. It was the luck of the draw, I suppose.

LonelyStoner posted...

I dont think its common for them, but she told us to do everything we could to get the person off and subdued long enough to bring them to flat ground. She held me under for a while and I panicked.

This is literally the scene from The Guardian. I'm tagging you as the dude from The Guardian.

HashtagSEP posted...

This is literally the scene from The Guardian. I'm tagging you as the dude from The Guardian.

Lmao Im gonna see if its on any of my streaming services. She didnt do this to every student. She gave us about 4-5 scenarios that she would be replicating.

LonelyStoner posted...

Shortsighted, maybe. Its not arrogant to know how to swim.

I didn't say it was arrogant to know how to swim, I said it was arrogant to assume everyone has access to a body of water or a pool to learn to swim.

If only your reading comprehension was as good as you claim your swimming is.

Murphiroth posted...

I didn't say it was arrogant to know how to swim, I said it was arrogant to assume everyone has access to a body of water or a pool to learn to swim.

If only your reading comprehension was as good as you claim your swimming is.

It is.

Though Ill admit I shouldve considered outliers in my reasoning. As small of a percentage as they are.

LonelyStoner posted...

Lmao Im gonna see if its on any of my streaming services. She didnt do this to every student. She gave us about 4-5 scenarios that she would be replicating.

It's a decent enough movie, actually.

I think your name is Billy, but I can't remember.

HashtagSEP posted...

It's a decent enough movie, actually.

I think your name is Billy, but I can't remember.

Nice, its on Prime. Watching it now. Thanks for the recommendation.

I would find it weird if I met some adult who couldn't swim, but here in Arizona it seems like half the houses have pools and it is super common to spend the hot summer days in the water

Murphiroth posted...

I didn't say it was arrogant to know how to swim, I said it was arrogant to assume everyone has access to a body of water or a pool to learn to swim.

If only your reading comprehension was as good as you claim your swimming is.

TC had almost a year old account with only 3 months of karma. Should have realized he was probably trolling with this topic.

I can keep my head above water but I can't move myself in the water very well...

Jupiter posted...

TC had almost a year old account with only 3 months of karma. Should have realized he was probably trolling with this topic.

Not everyone you disagree with is a troll.

BombermanGold posted...

A lot of folks don't know how to swim.
What kind of topic is this?

https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/drowning-can-actually-be-silent-and-fast-the-importance-of-knowing-how-to-swim-as-an-adult/

Key snippet:

"People thought they were better swimmers than they actually were," explained Nicole Roschella of the American Red Cross in Pittsburgh. "Eighty-five-percent of Americans said they could swim, but then only a little over half of those people could perform the five basic skills for water competency."
That means almost half, 44-percent to be specific, cannot accomplish those skills to save their lives while in the water.
In order to test your confidence, here's what a U.S. Navy Diver showed us:
* Being able to step or jump into water that's over your head, and being able to come up to the surface while breathing in a relaxed manner.
* Float and tread water for one minute.
* Being able to turn around and find an exit out of the water.
* Swimming 25 yards to the exit out of the water.
* Being able to get yourself out of the water if it's a pool, being able to push yourself out without the help of the ladder.
It's the last two that challenge casual swimmers - if you have never learned to swim you don't need to join a class for 4-year-olds.

I can definitely see how people in poor shape would struggle swim 25 yards, and how fat people could struggle to climb out of a pool without a ladder.

Oh shit Mr. Krabs is in this movie.