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Recognizing Drowning Victims

Not a question, per se, but more of a "general boating" PSA - good article for the masses.
How to know when someone's in trouble
- Dave
Comments
our babysitter is a young mother of a 18month old baby, who just completed his swimming classes.. The people who do the training are paying the rec center a considerable amount to host the classes.. it just so happens I have a pool in the back yard, which they want to use for their future classes.. they are fully bonded and insured (my wife is an attorney who is careful about legal liabilities).. they have expressed that they can teach children as young as six months, and are going to give my little girl a free class.. I'm all for it... on an aside, I'm also 'all for' putting up a barrier around the pool.. I don't want to lose a child in such a way...
I was drown proofed in the Marine Corps.. that process sucked, but I personally believe that anyone who spends a decent amount of time on or near the water consider doing a similar thing.... it gives confidence, but it also instills a deep deep respect for what can happen to you if you're stupid even for a few seconds..
it's worth it to me just to see the skill learned early enough that it is instinctual by the time she can carry on a conversation with me..
I posted a link to the article presented here, on facebook.. a few friends have responded, and one pointed out that there have been several deaths due to drowning in the area already, and tourist season has just begun here on the crystal coast.. One was a HS quarterback that a lot of div1 schools have shown interest in.. he was caught in a rip a few weekends ago, and his last communication was to his girl friend (also a senior in HS) to go for help, that he was going to cause both of them to drown if she didn't let go.. simply sad, huh?
it's not the stories like the one I just typed out that really strike me, though.. it's the ones with the victim right there in the thick of things with people all around- and nobody knew... one of the things we learned during all the military classes on water survival was about how quickly and quietly it actually happens.... i've never witnessed it, and hope i never do- but... trying to tell people that it is a quick and silent thing most often is difficult, and for reasons just as the article stated: most folks haven't seen it happen, unless it was on television- and it's always dramatic on tv..
That article taught me a lot too. I was not aware of how opposite of what one would expect the behavior of someone who is in trouble really is. The bottom line for me is to "ask" the person you think might be in trouble if he is ok.
Tony
Salt Shaker 342
My babysitter lady gave a demonstration the day before yesterday of her 18mo kid swimming.. he knows what to do and does it comfortably- he even swam under for a distance, and then floated up on his back like it was second nature.. I'm definitely getting those lessons for my little gal, whether I let the pool out or not..
all of this has got me thinking, though- I'm going to be pricing out pool barriers this morning... I'd rather have a tub of high quality dirt in the backyard and move my garden into it than I would turn back around after a second or two and see a child in danger.... the thought haunts me..