Sarcasm aside, it seems like using good sense near the water and not putting yourself in a dangerous position is more important than having the ability to swim; no?
i take it you can't swim?
Obviously, one does not plan to be in a life-threaneing water-realted situation. No matter how safe you try to be, you cannot control everything. So, it is better to be able to swim than not if you are going to be around water.
There is no advantage to not being able to swim and no downside to being able to swim, is there?
Don't know what that has to do with anything; but I'm a Red Cross certified lifeguard. And yes, part of the certification is a swim test.
Don't know what that has to do with anything; but I'm a Red Cross certified lifeguard. And yes, part of the certification is a swim test.
Not unless you're trying to get to first base with the lifeguard.
Have you ever worked as a life guard?
I have worked as a life guard, camp counselor, Sunday School teacher, youth coach and generally been in charge of large groups of both adults and children.
Relying on other's common sense to avoid emergency situations, especially around water, is a recipe for disaster.
Always assume people will do stupid stuff and you will almost never be disappointed.
MotionMan
Ha. I tried that a couple weeks ago with the hot flirty lifeguard at my pool. Me and my friend had played way too much soccer 2 days before and could hardly move enough to keep above the water. I told him we were likely to start drowning and he grinned and said "about time!"
I wouldn't argue with your observations about relying on the common sense of other people. :biggrin:
those of you saying people need to learn how to swim to be able to save lives in emergencies are really stretching it ...
those of you saying people need to learn how to swim to be able to save lives in emergencies are really stretching it ...
I am not talking about becoming the star of Baywatch.
One should, at a minimum, be able to get yourself out of the deep end of the pool. You should also be able to at least push a small child from the deep end to the shallow end.
Is that too much to expect, as there are obviously tons of adults who can't do that, some in this thread.
MotionMan
it's also "fun" to stay above the water. swimming is also about being able to survive in the water. it's not just about fun and games. not sure why some of you want to dismiss those facts.yes it is too much to expect.
when you are 5 years old learning how to swim, none of those are in your mind as to a reason to swim. you are learning to swim because it's fun to do so and be in water.
you were only 5 y/o though. saving your life wouldn't be on your mind, but it definitely is on your parent's minds, and why they encourage and help you to swim.again, when i learned to swim as a kid, learning it to "save my life in an emergency" was nowhere near my mind. i just wanted to jump off the diving board and swim like all the cool older people.
yes it is too much to expect, especially since tons of adults can't do it, and some of them are posting in this thread.
when you are 5 years old learning how to swim, none of those are in your mind as to a reason to swim. you are learning to swim because it's fun to do so and be in water.
sure as you get older, IF you know how to swim, you SHOULD be big enough to do what you are saying.
as far as bein scared to walk next to a lake because you can't swim? come on ... that is so bogus. lakes are shallow as shit along the shore. and chances are if it is a deep place right on the shore there will be warnings or rails there.
again, when i learned to swim as a kid, learning it to "save my life in an emergency" was nowhere near my mind. i just wanted to jump off the diving board and swim like all the cool older people.
it's also "fun" to stay above the water. swimming is also about being able to survive in the water. it's not just about fun and games. not sure why some of you want to dismiss those facts.
you were only 5 y/o though. saving your life wouldn't be on your mind, but it definitely is on your parent's minds, and why they encourage and help you to swim.
it's also "fun" to stay above the water. swimming is also about being able to survive in the water. it's not just about fun and games. not sure why some of you want to dismiss those facts.
you were only 5 y/o though. saving your life wouldn't be on your mind, but it definitely is on your parent's minds, and why they encourage and help you to swim.
i'm pretty sure if i asked my mom why they taught me to swim that she would not give that as being a reason why she encouraged me to swim...
and i'm not dismissing it as being a survival tool, i'm saying that is very very rarely a reason why one actually learns to swim, where as some people in this thread are making it out to be the #1 reason people learn to swim.
ask her. "mom why did you want me to learn to swim as a kid?"i'm pretty sure if i asked my mom why they taught me to swim that she would not give that as being a reason why she encouraged me to swim...
ask her. "mom why did you want me to learn to swim as a kid?"
you think she will say so you could have fun with the other kids first?
well obviously it will be so that i can play with other kids SAFELY water.
but that is totally different than "learning for survival".
safety, and survival in this case are similar.well obviously it will be so that i can play with other kids SAFELY water.
but that is totally different than "learning for survival".