Can you swim?

[Postmodern Smoking]

Aug 25, 2016 21:04:16 GMT Perpetua said:

Would I jump into the water in an attempt to save a dog or person in trouble . . . . I'm not so sure that knowledge would prevail. 

It's a situation I hope to never encounter.

That reminds me of this old TV advert:





[ETA] Can I swim... yes, learned as a young child, and later got self proficiency tested at school, including basic lifesaving techniques.

[Jules]

I can swim and so can my children but that didn't stop my Daughter being swept out to sea on a holiday in Cornwall when she was 15 she is now 26. She and her friend were thankfully rescured by lifeguards and suffered no lasting effects but I still feel guilty as we wern't there as she went down to Redruth with her friends family and now she only paddles in the sea and she keeps a tight hold of her two little ones if they want to paddle.

[Perpetua]

Aug 25, 2016 21:10:12 GMT Postmodern Smoking said:

Aug 25, 2016 21:04:16 GMT Perpetua said:

Would I jump into the water in an attempt to save a dog or person in trouble . . . . I'm not so sure that knowledge would prevail. 

It's a situation I hope to never encounter.

That reminds me of this old TV advert:

I'd like to think I'd follow that sound advice Dave as there really is no sense in endangering your own life and listening to a RNIL spokesman they spend as much time rescuing the ' rescuers ' as the original person or animal in difficulty.


But do any of us really know how we would react in a real life situation?

[Postmodern Smoking]

Aug 25, 2016 21:24:31 GMT Perpetua said:

I'd like to think I'd follow that sound advice Dave as there really is no sense in endangering your own life and listening to a RNLI spokesman they spend as much time rescuing the ' rescuers ' as the original person or animal in difficulty.


But do any of us really know how we would react in a real life situation?

Nope, I thankfully haven't been in that situation.... and I can imagine that there'd be a very strong pull to just jump in, without exhausting the safer possibilities.

[Get Off My Cloud]

Do they still make you wear your pajamas and fetch one of these from the bottom of the pool at school?

[SteveF]

I can swim, not exactly Johnny Weismuller but enough to save my life.
I've fallen into a river whilst fishing in flood conditions, kicked off my wellies and swum to the bank albeit 200 yards from where I fell in. Lucky, not something I'd care to repeat.

[Bobsbeer]

Some interesting replies to this thread. One thing I would like to stress is that I'm not suggesting any of the recent deaths were the result of not being able to swim. I just don't know. It was the number of deaths that made me think about it, and did some research. The result that 20% of the population in 2015 can't swim is what I found a big surprise and a shock. I'm not sure how that figure has moved over time, but I do know my father only learned as an adult. I guess swimming lessons at school in the 30's hadn't been invented or considered important.

I consider myself a strong swimmer, but have always hated swimming out at sea. Something to do with the thought that the bottom was 1000's of feet below me I think, which I know is silly. Yet if I swim below the surface I'm fine. Go figure that one.

The poll results so far are fairly close to the national average, which I suppose validates the national research, but still surprises me to some extent. Thanks for everyone's honesty.

[BrenD]

I've always been more of a fan of swimming in the sea than in pools, salt water doesn't screw with my ears, pool chemicals do.

That said, the Scout swimming sessions they used to do at HMS Raleigh were fun. I used to love the diving boards. Tom Daley, I wasn't!

[striker42]

Fishermen and chest waders = another recipe for drowning and disaster irrespective of whether they can swim or not.

[bioxx]

Learned it when I was about 4. Apparently it was hard for my parents to get me out of the water.

[anon4]

I can swim but not confidently enough to go in the sea. That said I could probably get myself out of trouble unless the current was strong, I can tread water but tire out quickly

[jtc]

Is it not still part of school curriculum?
Disgusting if not when more than half our world is covered in water!
I learned to swim well in my school days and really enjoyed it as well

[wil7985]

Can't swim, due to an incident as a youngster, I have a real phobia with water, but made sure my children & grandchildren can swim.

[gill2009]

Aug 26, 2016 0:03:09 GMT striker42 said:

Fishermen and chest waders = another recipe for drowning and disaster irrespective of whether they can swim or not.

  Exactly...RIP Alex

[chykensa]

I can swim, but don't very often, despite enjoying kayaking here in Cornwall.

I think the biggest education we have to promote is a healthy respect for the sea. All the tragic events in Cornwall recently could have been avoided if people respect the power of the ocean, and seek advice before thinking that it will be the same as a swimming pool.
Lifeguards are on most Cornish beaches, and not only patrol the flagged sections of the beach but are a font of wisdom regarding tides, currents, weather conditions and forecast, etc. Please take the time to learn what you can about the water you are proposing the get intimate with; that too could save your life.

When big seas are running, I am amazed just how close the uninitiated get - a wave at knee height is enough to bowl you over like a skittle, and at waist height you will be swept away. The average wave moves at 10 mph, regardless of height; imagine a solid wall of heavy water pushing you along at 10mph. It's not easy to get away from!