Apologies in advance for a long and heavy reply, but I share this story because I think it can help people. You're right that swimming lessons can make the difference between a good swimmer and somebody who merely knows how to maneuver in water. This difference is important in a crisis.
About five years ago, my wife, son and I were at the beach with my in-laws when my wife's parents and I were swept away from the shore by a powerful riptide. Neither my parents-in-law were good swimmers, and my mother-in-law went into a panic as the waves started crashing over her head. She drowned.
I tried to help my mother-in-law, but the combination of waves, currents, and her own flailing made it impossible. In the end, I had to save myself, which I was able to do only because I am a fairly competent swimmer, thanks to childhood swimming lessons. My father-in-law was lucky: He was resuscitated by an emergency medical unit and survived with no brain damage. A good Samaritan, who passed on a boat after I took off for shore and jumped in to try to help, was not so lucky: He also drowned.
This was the most traumatic event of my life, and years later, I still deal with the guilt of choosing to save myself, even knowing logically I couldn't have saved anyone else. I still dream of that grueling swim back to shore, and how I might not have made it had people not seen me and pulled me in for the home stretch. I am fortunate to have access to good health care and was able to get treatment for PTSD, but I probably wouldn't be alive today had I not taken swimming lessons as a child.
My son takes swimming lessons. My daughter, who is still younger than Keiki, will. I'm a pretty laid back parent and will let my kids' interests guide their activities, but swimming lessons--at least up to the point they are good swimmers--will be mandatory.
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TW: Drowning
Date: 2018-09-14 08:12 pm (UTC)About five years ago, my wife, son and I were at the beach with my in-laws when my wife's parents and I were swept away from the shore by a powerful riptide. Neither my parents-in-law were good swimmers, and my mother-in-law went into a panic as the waves started crashing over her head. She drowned.
I tried to help my mother-in-law, but the combination of waves, currents, and her own flailing made it impossible. In the end, I had to save myself, which I was able to do only because I am a fairly competent swimmer, thanks to childhood swimming lessons. My father-in-law was lucky: He was resuscitated by an emergency medical unit and survived with no brain damage. A good Samaritan, who passed on a boat after I took off for shore and jumped in to try to help, was not so lucky: He also drowned.
This was the most traumatic event of my life, and years later, I still deal with the guilt of choosing to save myself, even knowing logically I couldn't have saved anyone else. I still dream of that grueling swim back to shore, and how I might not have made it had people not seen me and pulled me in for the home stretch. I am fortunate to have access to good health care and was able to get treatment for PTSD, but I probably wouldn't be alive today had I not taken swimming lessons as a child.
My son takes swimming lessons. My daughter, who is still younger than Keiki, will. I'm a pretty laid back parent and will let my kids' interests guide their activities, but swimming lessons--at least up to the point they are good swimmers--will be mandatory.