I taught my kids how to swim

[WaikikiFirst]

my observation is that your son is very lucky not to be another drowning statistic. Trying to rescue a swimmer in trouble without a flotation device is an extremely risky proposition. A person in trouble instinct is to grab on to the rescuer with a "death grip"

Yup. My fear when I think about doing that

 

[WaikikiFirst]

I know how to swim, and I am terrified of the ocean. I cannot explain it.

I am terrified of the pool with dozens of people standing around in it
Swimming in clear ocean water gives me a high, not fear. OTOH, whenever I swam across ponds/lakes with dark water and anything touched my leg, I freaked out as if it was a Pond Shark. go figure

 

[clifffaith]

I am terrified of the pool with dozens of people standing around in it
Swimming in clear ocean water gives me a high, not fear. OTOH, whenever I swam across ponds/lakes with dark water and anything touched my leg, I freaked out as if it was a Pond Shark. go figure

As a kid I saw some pirate movie that included sharks. Mom could not get me in the tub with a blue, black, gray or white washcloth. Had to be a “flower color” so it wouldn’t be mistaken for a tub shark. SNL’s “Land Shark” routines always tickled me.

 

[easyrider]

As an Eagle Scout who was required to earn swimming and lifesaving merit badges as well as earning the scout lifeguard certification, my observation is that your son is very lucky not to be another drowning statistic.

Trying to rescue a swimmer in trouble without a flotation device is an extremely risky proposition. A person in trouble instinct is to grab on to the rescuer with a "death grip" and will crawl up them to keep their head above water. The one on one rescue is the last approach to be used IF there is NO equipment available.

Even if the victim is beyond the throw of the life ring, the rescuer should swim out with it to:

• Provide distance between the victim and the rescuer
• Provide a flotation device for the victim

This is against ALL the training from the Scouting program and I assume the Red Cross too. Drowning people are not reasonable.

It's great to learn to swim, but you should also at least understand the BASICS of lifesaving too. That goes with spotting and understanding rip currents too.

Everything you said is true. That is the reason for staying arm lenght away and only offering an arm while calmly explaining what you want the person to do.

As you know, most of the time you will not have a floatation device or anyone to help you save a person from drowning in a natural setting.

If a person doesn't possess the confidence or ability to save a person from drowning they could easily drown too. It happens often enough to be a concern.

I think my son read the situation properly and used the right technique to get this guy back to shore. If you wait too long as they bob eventually they just go under and you wouldn't find them.

Bill

 

[silentg]

When we moved to Florida in 1987, I was shocked that the elementary school didn’t have swimming lessons.
I found a swim instructor who came to our house to teach our kids to swim. I had to have more than my 2 kids for her to teach, so I asked my neighbors to bring their kids to learn to swim.
Later after my kids were grown, the elementary school took the kindergarten kids to the community pool for swim lessons. The idea was implement just later than I expected.

 

[easyrider]

I guess blame the chair hogs by the pool. He wanted to use the pool but couldn't find a place to put his stuff.

I have this vision in my head probably 1x per wk when on a beach vacation. I refuse to go to any "beach" resort where you can't swim in the ocean either right there or a very short walk away. I swim 200 - 400 yds in the ocean almost every day while I am on my beach vacations. There has to be some awesome all-day touristing to make me miss that. And I spend a lot of time on the beach. So, when I see someone in the ocean who obviously doesn't swim well or at all I wonder "Would I run in there and try to pull him/her out?" I know I'm a decent swimmer, but at my age and weight a panicked person who weighs much more than I do could easily take me down with them." Hasn't become more than a "??" so far. Huge applause for your son.

You know, Banderas Bay was the "can't miss" attraction the TS sales guy in Cabo told us we had to see with the car rental he would deliver to our door if we did his sales mtng. To give me some scope of it, how many yds off shore did your son have to go?

Banderas Bay is a gental slopping sandy bay for the most part but in some areas has a natural trench caused by wave action. The trench is maybe 10ft deep and 10 ft wide. In many places it is as shallow before the trench as after the trench. I think the guy could still tippy toe his head above water and was on the trench at slack. Maybe 20 to 30 yards out but only a 10 feet past waist deep.

Bill

 

[easyrider]

Today was my son's family check out day. A few wanted to stay until Tuesday and decided to rent a studio from the developer. I reserved it for them and when they went to check in he was upgraded to a two bed unit, ground floor, near the ocean. I think it's the resorts way of thanking him for the rescue.

Bill

 

[WaikikiFirst]

a natural trench caused by wave action. The trench is maybe 10ft deep and 10 ft wide. In many places it is as shallow before the trench as after the trench

interesting topology. I can see how that would cause panic in someone with on water skills. And panic really is the issue.