http://abcnews.go.com/WN/...d=11312631

Sad. 6 teens wading in the water ended up drowning because they went in too deep and none of them could swim. Their family on the beach just watched them drown because they couldn't swim either.

Why do you think 70% of black kids can't swim?

Edited to add: I'm white and I can barely swim. I can't even stay above water doing the doggy paddle.

[Edited 8/4/10 13:32pm]

MidniteMagnet said:

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/...d=11312631

Sad. 6 teens wading in the water ended up drowning because they went in too deep and none of them could swim. Their family on the beach just watched them drown because they couldn't swim either.

Why do you think 70% of black kids can't swim?

Lack of access to instruction.

OMG Ron told me about this yesterday and I couln't believe it.

Damn, the ocean is dangerous even if you can swim!

I can swim!

NDRU said:

Damn, the ocean is dangerous even if you can swim!

Wasn't the ocean--it was on a river.

Genesia said:

MidniteMagnet said:

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/...d=11312631

Sad. 6 teens wading in the water ended up drowning because they went in too deep and none of them could swim. Their family on the beach just watched them drown because they couldn't swim either.

Why do you think 70% of black kids can't swim?

Lack of access to instruction.

I agree, plus historically blacks were not allowed to swim in pools with whites. They thought that black men might try and do something sexual with white women since they would be close together in the same pool with minimal clothing. For black people living in the city, if they couldn't swim at the public pool, where else were they going to learn?

So many people underestimate water currents. This may sound corny, but I have teens in my family that can not swim, and when we are on the beach I force them to stay in the shallows. The beach (ocean) may be easier to float becaus of the salt water (which leads to a false sense of security and inexperienced swimmers tend to venture out), but there are so many factors were things can go wrong. There have been two deaths this year alone from drowning at the beach where I frequent, two teens in fact. Both lived along the same beach and both didn't know how to swim.

Y'know...the first thing any Wisconsin native will tell folks who come to vacation near the Wisconsin River is "stay the fuck out of the river." The second is, "never, ever go wading off a sandbar."

Rivers are incredibly dangerous - way more dangerous than lakes and even the ocean. The current of a fast-moving river is nothing to mess around with - the bottom can give way and you can be sucked under in a heartbeat. The best thing to do if you get caught is to not panic and just go with it. Once you come to the surface, try to float and paddle diagonally to shore.

But if a person can't swim, that advice is useless - they're going to panic no matter what.

I can, and my sister can't, and we both had lessons- my Mom insisted.

Karen would panic every time she got in the water.

Sad thing is they were just wading in the water and the sand bar gave out... How awful to have to stand there and not be able to do anything...

All us kids had lessons, I can swim but I hate it!

The four most valuable words you will ever learn: Reach. Throw. Row. Go.

If someone with you gets in over his/her head, the last thing you want to do is dive in to save them. First, try to reach them with an oar, a towel or anything you can find. Second, throw something to them to help them float or tow them back. Third, get to them in a boat. Last option, dive in. But only if you are a strong swimmer and know something about water rescue.

I'm not a fan of water, so even though I can swim, you wont be catching my ass wading into a river.

As sad as it is, what in the hell were these people thinking?? None of them can swim, yet they venture into a river??

Poiple said:

NDRU said:

Damn, the ocean is dangerous even if you can swim!

Wasn't the ocean--it was on a river.

ah, well running water all the same, even pools are dangerous

Gosh, ability to swim is one of those things I just take for granted. But I guess it's just like with me and my driver's licence; since I didn't really need it until I was 26 I didn't get it until then either. Still, one would think that the parents would take it upon themselves to make sure that their kid learns such a basic survival skill, no?

the kid that slipped first was the only one to survive too....

and it does really bother me that 20 people (no matter the ethnicity), not one of them knew how to swim, then they had no business letting the kids in the water.

and one life preserver? the first thing I bought for my nephew before I put his non-swimming ass in the water was a life jacket, floating thingee. Dang they could at least have had some rope to throw....

retina said:

Still, one would think that the parents would take it upon themselves to make sure that their kid learns such a basic survival skill, no?

They didn't even have to know how to swim per se....just how to float, and how to not panic!

BklynBabe said:

retina said:

Still, one would think that the parents would take it upon themselves to make sure that their kid learns such a basic survival skill, no?

They didn't even have to know how to swim per se....just how to float, and how to not panic!

I don't know how to float.

Do you mean tread water?

retina said:

Gosh, ability to swim is one of those things I just take for granted. But I guess it's just like with me and my driver's licence; since I didn't really need it until I was 26 I didn't get it until then either. Still, one would think that the parents would take it upon themselves to make sure that their kid learns such a basic survival skill, no?

Indeed ~

mine were in pools and swimming on their own by 2 ( yes with constant adult supervision ALWAYS )

Aquaman is giving free swimming lessons this Saturday from 10am-2pm at the Hall of Justice Swimming pool. Anyone caught peeing in the pool will be zapped to the Phantom Zone. Make sure you get your parents permission.

There have been a couple drownings here this summer where the kids were in the water and didn't know how to swim. I understand, it's been hotter than hell on a Sunday, but if you can't swim you've got no business being in a river, ocean, lake, etc.

retina said:

BklynBabe said:

They didn't even have to know how to swim per se....just how to float, and how to not panic!

I don't know how to float.

Do you mean tread water?

no, I mean float! It's the first thing you learn in swimming, to lean back, relax, and let your natural buoyancy take over.... (if you are naturally buoyant, which I am not, but I can fake it with little hand and feet movements). Treading water is work!! Especially once someone makes you do it for 10 minutes!!

BklynBabe said:

retina said:

I don't know how to float.

Do you mean tread water?

no, I mean float! It's the first thing you learn in swimming, to lean back, relax, and let your natural buoyancy take over.... (if you are naturally buoyant, which I am not, but I can fake it with little hand and feet movements). Treading water is work!! Especially once someone makes you do it for 10 minutes!!

Oh, with hand and feet movements. Got it. I would probably call that a gentle backstroke, lol. If they're going to learn that they might as well learn how to swim properly. It doesn't take that long.

retina said:

BklynBabe said:

no, I mean float! It's the first thing you learn in swimming, to lean back, relax, and let your natural buoyancy take over.... (if you are naturally buoyant, which I am not, but I can fake it with little hand and feet movements). Treading water is work!! Especially once someone makes you do it for 10 minutes!!

Oh, with hand and feet movements. Got it. I would probably call that a gentle backstroke, lol. If they're going to learn that they might as well learn how to swim properly. It doesn't take that long.

Actually, there's something even better called survival floating. You do this face down. Put your face in the water, let your feet hang toward the bottom. Your upper back will float because of the air in your lungs. Stay completely relaxed and when you need to breathe, simply move your arms down while raising your head. Take one breath and return to neutral. Don't waste energy trying to tread water for ongoing breathing. One breath and back down.

When I passed my advanced lifesaving course, we had to do this for a half hour.

My pops worked at a University. So he made sure his baby knew how to swim. Now, do I WANT to get wet? Hell no. But if I ever get caught in the water, I know how to save myself. I won't say what will never happen to me, 'cause I don't know. But for the most part I try to avoid water...

We need to teach ALL children how to swim but especially the African-American ones. They have all sorts of programs around Chicago for it if one looks. They are affordable and there's one around my area that's actually free...

That's very tragic nevertheless and I know VERY heartbreaking for all the familes involved. My heart and prayers go out to them at this time...

[Edited 8/4/10 14:47pm]

Genesia said:

retina said:

Oh, with hand and feet movements. Got it. I would probably call that a gentle backstroke, lol. If they're going to learn that they might as well learn how to swim properly. It doesn't take that long.

Actually, there's something even better called survival floating. You do this face down. Put your face in the water, let your feet hang toward the bottom. Your upper back will float because of the air in your lungs. Stay completely relaxed and when you need to breathe, simply move your arms down while raising your head. Take one breath and return to neutral. Don't waste energy trying to tread water for ongoing breathing. One breath and back down.

When I passed my advanced lifesaving course, we had to do this for a half hour.

Sounds like you'd have to be very calm and non-panicky to achieve that. And the water would have to be pretty calm too, right (so your face doesn't get splashed when you come up for air)? But I guess if you meet all those criteria in a real survival situation, it would be effective.

retina said:

Genesia said:

Actually, there's something even better called survival floating. You do this face down. Put your face in the water, let your feet hang toward the bottom. Your upper back will float because of the air in your lungs. Stay completely relaxed and when you need to breathe, simply move your arms down while raising your head. Take one breath and return to neutral. Don't waste energy trying to tread water for ongoing breathing. One breath and back down.

When I passed my advanced lifesaving course, we had to do this for a half hour.

Sounds like you'd have to be very calm and non-panicky to achieve that. And the water would have to be pretty calm too, right (so your face doesn't get splashed when you come up for air)? But I guess if you meet all those criteria in a real survival situation, it would be effective.

The thing is, the technique actually keeps you calm. If you aren't thrashing about and gasping for air, your heart rate will slow naturally. And you don't have to raise your head more than a few inches - even in waves - because your body rises and falls with them.

I mean, let's face it, if you fall overboard in the ocean, you're pretty much a goner. This technique is to keep you from getting worn out if you fall into a pool or or a lake.

This summer I had my first experiences wading in the River Elbe with my other half, who thankfully, is an expert swimmer. We spent a day frolicking there now that they rebuilt the man made beach, and I felt secure enough for a barely-can-doggy-paddle kinda girl. But sure enough, as the day went on and sunset arrived, it was the scariest feeling to feel the mud shifting beneath my feet underwater, within just a mater of 6 inches or so there would be a 2-4 inch drop that would have sent me panicking, because it feels like quicksand sucking you in. The sand/mud shifts and it's a scary thing if you're not familiar with it.

Genesia said:

retina said:

Oh, with hand and feet movements. Got it. I would probably call that a gentle backstroke, lol. If they're going to learn that they might as well learn how to swim properly. It doesn't take that long.

Actually, there's something even better called survival floating. You do this face down. Put your face in the water, let your feet hang toward the bottom. Your upper back will float because of the air in your lungs. Stay completely relaxed and when you need to breathe, simply move your arms down while raising your head. Take one breath and return to neutral. Don't waste energy trying to tread water for ongoing breathing. One breath and back down.

When I passed my advanced lifesaving course, we had to do this for a half hour.

the great thing about that technique is it is a calm and seamless transition into drowning from exhaustion

NDRU said:

Genesia said:

Actually, there's something even better called survival floating. You do this face down. Put your face in the water, let your feet hang toward the bottom. Your upper back will float because of the air in your lungs. Stay completely relaxed and when you need to breathe, simply move your arms down while raising your head. Take one breath and return to neutral. Don't waste energy trying to tread water for ongoing breathing. One breath and back down.

When I passed my advanced lifesaving course, we had to do this for a half hour.

the great thing about that technique is it is a calm and seamless transition into drowning from exhaustion

Do you have an alternative, [Name calling snip - luv4u] ?

The point of the technique is to avoid exhaustion, which will come a damn sight quicker if you're treading water or flailing around in a panic. It's used to buy time for someone to get to you - no one said you could do it indefinitely.

How many lifesaving courses have you passed?