Drownings in Louisiana

[Spookwriter]

First off, I myself can not swim. Do not have a clue how to.
Yes, I have a nice pool in my yard. I've even been in it a
few times. I have a fear of water.

And that is the very point of my having this pool.

I have a needless fear of water. I will NOT allow my daughter
to have the same needless fears. She CAN swim. (and does almost
daily) My wife and the neighbors taught her.

Even as I know full well that she can swim, I can not in good faith let
her in the pool alone. Either her mother or myself are always present.
That's the way it is. Accidents can happen to anyone.

She had a small party yesterday. Some friends over to swim. And I was
"on-deck" at all times. Ready.

That's my job.

To allow a non-swimmer in the water...certainly a whole family of non-swimmers
would be an accident waiting.

I feel sorry for the entire family. But really...what in the world were they thinking?

 

[twentynine]

Quote:
Happens ALL the time ... all the time.

I am afraid Texas is right.

I particularly have a co-worker with a large deep gunite pool in his back yard. He can not swim a lick.

Myself I have several levals of Red Cross Lifesaving training, plus Boy Scout Lifesaving training. I have mentioned to him about atleast going to the Y and learn basic drown proofing, nope. I have offered to teach him drown proofing free of charge, nope. I have tried to explain to him one of the basic tenants of water rescue -REACH-THROW-ROW-OR-GO. But he insist that if his grandson is in the pool and in trouble he is going in after him. Irresponsible to say the least. His grandson swimming in the pool with a some one who can't swim watching over him.

I pray that one day his wife doesn't come home and find them both in the bottom of the pool.

Unfortunately the post above is much similar to my co-workers attitude. A total non swimmer, on lifeguard duty.

By the way the REACH-THROW-ROW-OR-GO

REACH the drowning victim with a pole.

THROW the victim a bouy, float or life ring.

ROW out to the drowning victim in a boat or on an air mattress.

GO The very last thing any one should do is get in the water with a drowning person (trained or untrained). In their panic they can and will over power you, then you will be a drowning victim also. A nonswimmer stands no chance at all.

Incase ya'll don't understand I am a big believer in a swimmer learning self rescue, AT ANY AGE.

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
Yeah.. thats what they said in the story...That it just goes on generation to generation, because of the fear...
Heck.. my dad just tossed me in the middle of the pool to teach me to keep my head above water...

(cause i was being stubbon about learning to swim... )
It worked though..

yah, when I was 5 my uncle put me on his shoulders and jumped stright down off of his diving board-to help me learn to reach the top of the water if I ever fell in--well that was the last time I EVER "fell" straight down into any water. I was swimming like a fish that week!

That poor family-it was the talk of work yesterday--so so so very heartbreaking

 

[JetBlack]

I used to find it amazing that some people couldn't swim. It was like someone telling you "I never learned to walk, swallow, drive or vote."

When I was 3, I had the deep end of the pool, to myself. We lived in a housing project, just outside DC. I was the only person who could swim, besides, my parents! I don't really understand how the girls, in that story, didn't float. Girls float! Just because you can't swim doesn't mean you won't cork to the surface.

It's also possible that once the first person begins to struggle/drown, all the rest of the kids simply rushed over (bravely) and then were in beyond their abilities. It's just amazing to me, that you can get that many people in one place and not one of them ever learned to swim!

 

[Spookwriter]

*TwentyNine*

I see no danger in my being lifeguard for the children. Water is four feet
deep, I'm just under six foot. I can't swim, but I do stick out of the water
quite well.

My clean and clear well-maintained back yard pool is a far cry from a river
of unknown depths.

Will I get in my pool? Yes. Would I ever see the need to get in any water I
can't see the depth of? Not no way. Smart enough to know I can't swim.

**Swimming looks like fun. It really does! And I wish I could swim. Just can't
seem to get the hang of it. And I do enjoy playing in the pool as long as I don't
get my face wet. I don't like that at all. NOT AT ALL.

By the same reasoning, I don't like the buzz of a hairclippers around my ears.
Going to a dentist makes me postively ill for days beforehand. Have got to be put
to sleep.

Strange phobia and all that.

 

[NonnasBabies]

I don't think anyones talking about a 4 ft above ground pool. There's a big difference between that and a built in and a much bigger difference from a river.

Missi

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Spook- there are many, many people that fear the water. I once taught a swim class for adult women. All had long-standing water fears. We met for months and at the end of the three months maybe half of them had finally gotten to where they would put their face in the water. We met in the 3' end of the pool and never went deeper than 4'. All of these women were TERRIFIED of water, but all had decided to overcome that fear because of their kids and grandkids. I was so impressed with their courage and determination. It was quite the life lesson for my young (at the time) self.
(About half of them learned to swim enough to get them out of the water. None of them would ever be pleasure swimmers, but all could at least save themselves in an emergency. We talked a great deal about water safety as well and ways to get their kids/grandkids out of danger. They were amazing women.)

There are ways to help yourself out of this fear if you want to. PM me if you want more help. At 6' in a 4' pool though you are likely okay.

I appreciate that you want your child to swim and that you are encouraging her love of the water. It is a great life skill.

(CG- swim coach and swim teacher for 25+ years)

 

[arabianequine]

Anyone should be able to float, even doggy paddle, at least tread water at a min.

 

[Sassymygirl]

I never took swimming lessons...Oneday when I was 6 my dad tossed me in the pool and told me to stay above the water...I'm a very good swimmer now. So I guess it worked...

 

[justbugged]

Early after the story was posted on the net, there were pictures of some of the family. Everyone of them looked hysterical. Now I understood part of the hysterics the aftermath of the disaster, but I got a feeling that hysterics might have been a fairly normal event for this family. It would explain the panic, and so many victims. It also explains the adults not functioning. A drowning person is alway a major risk to those who are trying to save them. then multiply that by several drowning at the same time, with the adults all screaming hysterically and you have a disaster. A family that can't swim shouldn't have been anywhere near water that didn't have a lifeguard on duty.