Do you know how to swim?

[LJH]

My mother-in-law couldn't swim. One day at the beach a big wave knocked her down and swept her around ten or twenty yards. She started yelling "HELP" and such.

A lifeguard got there before I did, grabbed her arm...and said, "Mame, you can stand up now."

We used that for years, every time she started to get excited about anything, we'd all say, "Mame, you can stand up now."

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

 

[Soundguy]

35%? really..

yikes!

 

[RobertBrown]

I think humans are like most mammals in that we have the abilty to swim innately. There are those of us who don't seem to have this ability, and subsequently fear the water. That is as it should be.

I once knew a woman who could not swim, could not even float. She seemed to lack any buoyancy at all, even with her lungs inflated. It was hard for me to understnd why, but perfectly clear that she should fear the water and should avoid it. Since knowing this woman, I never try to coearce anyone to enter the water, or ridicule anyone who fears it.

I was never taught to swim, I just knew how to locomote through the water using any number of methods. I suspect that if someone needs to be taught to swim....they should probably use a bouyancy device to assist when in the water or in a boat.
Many years ago (20?) it became in vouge to give birth in a pool. Since a fetus is in a fluid anyway it's not likely to drown, provided things go well. It was also popular to introduce babies to the pool and apparent that they could swim before they could talk or even walk.
Giving birth in a pool of water is far better for mother and baby
Water birth - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Stimw]

I don't remember when I learned to swim but I would guess between 6-8 years old.
I have been a certified SCUBA diver since 1986 and the class taught many more water skills. Snorkling and Free Diving to name a few.

 

[DKCDKC]

I was very fortunate to grow up in a home with a large pool... We had an inherited farm with amenities like the pool... Just little money. Farming was not that lucrative. But I did learn to swim about 3 or 4, I am told. We were never good stylists, just water-babies who spent hours in the water. The pool was spring-fed with constant flow-through - overflow supplied a cattle water trough down the hill. So it was very cold. But, on a hot July day, when there were hundreds of hay-bales in the field ready for pickup, we would soak in the pool for a half hour and be cool most of the afternoon as we worked. We would then return after supper for a night swim, and sleep wonderfully.

I still loved to swim, but do it rarely - at the Y usually. The water is too warm and has too many chemicals. But there is still something about the weightlessness of swimming and playing in the water.

All my kids and most of my grandkids are excellent swimmers. One of the grandkids was actually born in a swimming pool and did beautifully. It wasn't what I would have wanted, but it worked for them.

 

[jymbee]

The pool was spring-fed with constant flow-through - overflow supplied a cattle water trough down the hill. So it was very cold. But, on a hot July day, when there were hundreds of hay-bales in the field ready for pickup, we would soak in the pool for a half hour and be cool most of the afternoon as we worked. We would then return after supper for a night swim, and sleep wonderfully.

Great description- and I can well relate as it brings back memories. But shoot-- seems like most farmers these days don't ever "pick up" hay bales-- at least in the sense that you and I recall. Kick balers and round bales? That's almost like cheating! :laughing:

 

[uglyboywith11fingers]

I grew up on the north shore of Lake Erie, near Kingsville... back in the late 1950's when the water was still clean. I was 10 or 12 at the time, we always made our way thru 5 foot water out to the sand bar.
One time a bunch of us ended up at the Kingsville dock, others were jumping in, I hesitated, having never been in water 15 feet deep. I found out that day I did not need the comfort of knowing there was a bottom just below my feet. Not an expert swimmer, but I can keep myself out of trouble.

Pete

 

[TCJatko]

I can swim , but not like an expert. In my later years I've developed some increased volume as a flotation aid.

 

[grsthegreat]

oh heck yes.... learned when i was a wee tike.

then again now days, im so fat i just float hehe

 

[DKCDKC]

Great description- and I can well relate as it brings back memories. But shoot-- seems like most farmers these days don't ever "pick up" hay bales-- at least in the sense that you and I recall. Kick balers and round bales? That's almost like cheating! :laughing:

A sizzling summer day... My father driving the tractor pulling a large haywagon... My brother and I - in t-shirts and gloves - with scratched and bleeding arms, taking turns picking up bales and stacking them high on the wagon. The hay chaff would stick to sweaty skin, your fingers would be sore from the twine, and your knee from kicking the bale up to the wagon floor, or high to a stack.

The wonderful and cooler ride to the barn, then unstacking the bales one at a time to an elevator - with its reluctant engine - that would parade them up into the barn... And taking turns again in the mow - eternally stacking as high as you could reach, while watching for holes in the flooring (through which the hay would later be tossed to hungry livestock).

Sometimes dark clouds in the west would drive us at a frenetic pace to get the hay in before a rain... Then, when it was in, keep us from the pool until the lightning passed.

It was a hot, hard time... A time of sharp stubble, short breaks, and sweat... It was hard on the back, tough on the hands and terrible to the allergies. But it was a time of brotherly competition, showing-off, visible accomplishment and family satisfaction. Overall.... It was great.

(Of course, that's colored by the 55 years since, years of offices, travel, computers - and no hay at all. At the time I may have seen it a little differently.)

 

[JOE G]

Yes I can swim, I don't ever remember being taught, It seems Like I just knew how, It is hard for me to understand how some people can't swim it just seems so natural. My GF can't swim.

As kids I grew p in NYC and Long Island and we lived on the bay ( Water in LI was cleaner then ) and we would swim all of the time.

As I got older I moved to Upstate NY and we would swim in the Ponds and rivers.

Now I have my own swimming hole where I take my kids to on my Property. I did take my Kids for lessons at the local youth center, They love the water.

 

[mjarrels]

Grew up in the water... swimming pool across the road. Navy days, went swimming in all the seas. South China sea is my favorite, water always warm. Wife grew up on the South China sea and has no idea how to swim. Always wanted to have a swim call off an aircraft carrier, be great to dive off a deck edge elevator 40' above the water. Goal is to take a dip in the Philippine Sea next time I'm in that part of the world... DEEP water at 35,000' Not scared of water at all... probably dround one day. Did jump in cold water at wakulla springs in Fl once and got lungs full of ice cold water.

mark

 

[MasseyWV]

When we were kids, long before there was a swimming pool in town, we had several favorite "swimming holes" in local creeks. Have to admit were I to drive by any of these spots today and actually saw people swimming I'd be pretty surprised. After all, lots of critters and no chlorine. But I can't think of any kids my age that didn't at least know how to swim! Have things changed that much?

Yep, times have changed. I recall going to the local swimming hole quite frequently, and a box of salt was mandatory... for removing the leeches. Oh, and I learned to swim at a very early age... the hard way.

 

[cj7m57]

I have little kids & it was real easy to teach them to swim- they love playing in the water so it doesn't feel like work for them to learn. I think it would be much harder to learn as an adult b/c adults don't like to admit not knowing something like that & would be afraid of looking goofy in the pool.

When I was a kid we would swim in a deep part of a creek where there was a sandy spot on one side & close to a marsh on the other- we'd often see water snakes swimming on the other side from the "beach," not far away. Not sure I would be willing to swim with snakes now... but I'm pretty sure my boys would. I must be doing something right. :.)

 

[cj7m57]

I have little kids & it was real easy to teach them to swim- they love playing in the water so it doesn't feel like work for them to learn. I think it would be much harder to learn as an adult b/c adults don't like to admit not knowing something like that & would be afraid of looking goofy in the pool.

When I was a kid we would swim in a deep part of a creek where there was a sandy spot on one side & close to a marsh on the other- we'd often see water snakes swimming on the other side from the "beach," not far away. Not sure I would be willing to swim with snakes now... but I'm pretty sure my boys would. I must be doing something right. :.)

 

[MossRoad]

When I was a small child, I had some very bad experiences with water. Suffice it to say, I then developed a deathly fear of drowning. We lived by a lake, and my mother did not know how to swim either and also had a deathly fear of drowning. Yikes! What a combination. :laughing:

Anyhow, she forced me into a row-boat, both of us wearing life jackets, and taught me how to row a boat. Then she enrolled me in swimming lessons. They were ten 1 hour sessions. It took them about 18 lessons just to get my feet into the pool. After 80 lessons, I finally passed beginners' level swimming. Then I quickly passed advanced beginners, swimmers, intermediate and junior lifesaving, lifesaving and got my water safety instructors card. I ended up becoming a lifeguard and swim instructor, as well as a member of the rescue crew on a man-made whitewater course. I was in that lake from sun-up to sun-down with my friends and now miss my time away from water.

With my first experiences with water being so horrific, I never in my wildest dreams could have seen me become so at ease in the water later in life.

My wife and mother-in-law took adult swim classes soon after we got married and they learned to swim as well.

We now have an above ground pool and I taught my kids to be comfortable in the water, too.

So, with a little positive encouragement, even basket cases like me can be taught to overcome their fear of water and learn to be a fish. :thumbsup:

Also, everyone should know how to swim. It could save your life someday.

Unfortunately, I've witnessed the aftermath of many drownings. Just a horrible thing for a family to have to wait for a resue crew to find their missing loved one. Its hard on the rescue crew as well.

 

[arrow]

Can't swim a stroke. Even drowned and resuscitated once or so they tell me. Actually, I do remember the drowning part. Is where I learned death doesn't matter to me.
About 8 years later went to the YMCA to learn. Couldn't swim there as well. Instructor told me "sir, go home and don't go near the water" Still go inshore fishing however but wear a super duper life jacket. I'm one of those who just seem to sink and it does not help that my body goes into one giant muscle spasm as soon as I get thigh high into water.

 

[aczlan]

Great description- and I can well relate as it brings back memories. But shoot-- seems like most farmers these days don't ever "pick up" hay bales-- at least in the sense that you and I recall. Kick balers and round bales? That's almost like cheating! :laughing:

Having stacked a few bales by hand and stacked in a kicker wagon, IMO, its sixes. Stacking in a kicker wagon means that you have to move faster than you have to when stacking out of the field and you have to really keep an ear/eye out for the next bale, or you will get knocked over (if not on the ground next to the wagon).
Also, (IMO) the chaff is worse on a kicker wagon as you get the chaff that comes out of the chute that would otherwise end up on the ground.

On swimming, my wife and I like to swim and are comfortable in the water. Our 3 year old is a little fish and loves the water. Our 6 month old also likes the water and gets very excited when she hears the bathwater running.

Aaron Z

 

[NoTrespassing]

I can float and swim enough to save myself but that's about it.

On another note, my wife who is Filipino cannot swim. She had to take a boat to school everyday and still never bothered to learn. Having talked to many of the women from my inlaws neighborhood, it seems almost none of them learn to swim or ride a bike or other "boy" stuff. That's in a country of over 7,000 islands surrounded by saltwater!

Kevin

 

[texasjohn]

yes, taught myself. Moved to ranch on clear river (long story) as sophomore in high school. Everybody else could swim but me. Embarrassed, I set out to learn and made many trips solo to the river which was mostly shallow with a few deep spots, nothing unpredictable. It ain't pretty, but I can swim.