Can you swim?

[Bobsbeer]

In view of the recent tragic deaths around our island I am just wondering how many people can't swim.  Recent data suggests that 1 in 5 adults can't swim, and 1 in 3 primary school leavers can't swim.  I don't know about others, but I find these figures shocking.  Being able to swim should be made a national priority, and to find out that 1/5 of our population can't swim is a national disgrace.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm not in any way knocking those that can't swim.  I'm not attaching any blame to those that can't.  If blame is to be attached it has to be the system.  Which in my view has got it's priority wrong.  A child should not be allowed to leave school until they can swim.  I would urge all who can't swim to learn.  We are an island surrounded by water and 100% should be able to swim.  I just think it's tragic that people die by being unable to swim.  Anyway it would be interesting to see what the results are.

[gill2009]

  I can't swim...am terrified of water...I think due a serious incident when I was a child...  Bobsbeer

[Deleted]

I swim like a brick.

[tsoko]

I use to swim in the rivers back in Rhodesia with the crocs and hippos

[Bobsbeer]

Aug 25, 2016 17:37:51 GMT gill2009 said:

  I can't swim...am terrified of water...I think due a serious incident when I was a child...  Bobsbeer

No need to be sorry gill2009 .  Thanks for your honesty.   I think everyone should be able to swim, but I do understand that there will be people who can't for one reason or another.  I guess all I can say is talk to your local swimming pool staff and see if there is a way to teach you without causing you more trauma.  I'm sure you would love it if you succeeded.  Being able to swim is fun.  and may save your life. 

[digicig]

As a kid i grew up on the south/south west coast, and was taken to the pool often by my parents (water wings etc LoL) and could 'propel myself through the water' - rather than swim.

When we moved to Cornwall at 7 i started swimming lessons proper, joined a swimming club and swiftly went through the groups. We also had a small outside pool, went to the local pool once a week and everyone was encouraged to at least do their 10m swimming badge before they left for 'Big School'. Living close (5-10 minutes) from one of the best swimming beaches in Cornwall (at the time anyway), Carlyon Bay, also meant that i swam almost every day in the summer.

The first time i remember meeting a number of folk who couldn't swim, was in Swindon - and then again surprisingly in Hull. It never really occurred to me that other schools wouldn't teach kids to swim until then.

In China, the majority of folk i speak to, like the water, but have never learnt. The Government discourage folk from swimming in the rivers, and most of China is 100's or even 1000's of miles away from the sea - and a distinct lack of proper swimming pools to boot. To be able to swim properly is something many find surprising and even admirable.

[TJ]

Yip, Dad taught us before we could walk, always camped as a kid so beaches and swimming pools were the norm, my daughter learnt at primary school but actually hates swimming but can stay afloat thankfully.

[Bobsbeer]

I don't remember not being able to swim. I do remember using a rubber ring when about 4 or 5, but I don't remember the exact date I swam without aids, but must have been not long after that. It just seemed normal. Not that I ever swam competitively, I was rubbish, but enjoy swimming for fun.

[BeOne]

I can also swim. Taught from an early age. As a young teenager we used to hang about the swimming pool and you had show a level of competence to get in the deep end where all the cool kids hung out. Swim a few breadths and tread water for 30 seconds. Basically, be able to save yourself. Been able to swim ever since.

[OliverB]

Nope. Never tried. Can't ride a bike either. I was a curiously unadventurous child.

[Raffles]

I was the guy that Charles Atlas used to kick sand in the face. Also, at school, we had a PE teacher that was a complete bully, and just loved to humiliate us, so I used to dread swimming lessons.

It was on a holiday to Spain back in the early 80s, when I had the scare of my life, when an evil little girl pushed my youngest lad into the deep end of the pool, and was rescued by a friend's son who we were travelling with. Where was I? ... in the bar, having left him in the paddling pool. Talk about guilt, so on return, both sons were taken to the local baths for lessons and soon were able to swim like fish.

I can probably do a width, but with a body like mine you will never catch me in a pair of trunks!

[VapingBad]

Yep and made sure our kids could especially as we live near a couple of rivers.

[Deleted]

Yep grew up living right on the beach also went to local pool all the time. Even done my basic life saving course which inc have to swim a mile,
not sure i could do it nowadays though

[Lee]

Primary school I went to in Maidstone had a pool
Part of the curriculum was swimming lessons

Secondary school I went to, the European studies classroom over looked the girls grammar pool
The males in the European studies class had a strong interest in swimming

[Deleted]

I remember being on the beach in Scotland, sandy hills Galloway, at about the age of 10. Got caught in the incoming tide which pulled me one way, hauled me another. A nearby family pulled me out but it was a struggle. Yes I could and can swim but if it wasn't for that man being there, I doubt I'd be here now.