Do You Know How To Swim?

[Persephone]

I heard on the radio today that 37% of Americans today cannot swim and almost 15% of them are children between the ages of 7-12!! That really surprised me because I learned how to swim at a very young age...probably 4 or 5. I never had any formal swim classes, my parents just taught me at home in our own pool. The radio also said that between 60-65% of African American children can't swim either! These numbers just really surprised me because I thought more people were able to swim 🙂

So my question is....do YOU know how to swim? When did you learn?

If your answer is no...why do you think you never learned? Does it ever concern you?

Do your children know how to swim? Your family members?

Especially after the recent cruise fiasco in Italy...they said a lot of the passengers didn't know how to swim and weren't able to adequately obtain a life jacket and drowned as a result. These certain life skills...like swimming, can come in handy when you least expect it!

 

[r4j20c67]

I don't know how to swim. When I was 8 I almost drowned, so I kinda stay away from deep water.

 

[Soda Bobinski]

My technique is undoubtedly something less than 'Olympic-level' , but yeah ... I can get from point A to point B.

 

[Jagermeistered]

I learned when I was about 7 years old, and like Soda; it's not pretty - but, I can get to dry land.

 

[Bothersome]

I don't think I'd call it 'swimming'.

I'd just call it not drowning.

 

[GEORGIATKLER]

My style is treading water with slick tires.

 

[Mitchell]

Yes, Ive always been a good swimmer.

I really learned in sleep away camp, when I was about 10. The house I lived in, in CT, had a pool, but my parents had a rope, and I wasnt allowed in the deep end unless my parents were by the pool. My father taught me how to swim the summers when I was 8 and 9, but, it was really in camp that I perfected it. We had one test, called the Whale Test, where we had to swim to the middle of the lake and back, as the couneslors spotted us in row boats.

I've always liked swimming in the deep end of the pool, and the apartments I've lived in, in the suburbs, have pools. The only time I dont go in the deep end of my complex pool, is if I have a physical issue. Other than that, its deep end swimming for me.

Mitch

 

[Myriads]

I learned when I was five. My mother tossed me into a pool. It was motivational.

Myriads

 

[GQguy]

Just learned in Navy water survival. Actually have a mile swim today...wish me luck! Till two months ago had my plane crashed over any body of water and my vest/raft didn't work I'd be toast!

 

[-Hari-]

I can swim but im crap at it, ive just started going with kittycupcake regularly so keep fit

 

[Gothika]

yep i learned young

 

[me4o]

I'm an excellent swimmer and I love it very much 🙂

 

[TropicThunder]

I learned how to swim really young, and I also took life guarding and swim club for five years. We started all of our classes with 16 laps across the pool.

That being said, I haven't gone swimming since before I got pregnant, so I haven't been in the water for three years now.

 

[jhop220]

Swimming is my favorite exercise. In the warmer months, I tend to swim about 25-50 laps every other day.

 

[Bothersome]

Swimming is the best exercise.

Well, best in the sense that I don't have to have a TV in my viewing range to enjoy it. xP

 

[Bohemianne]

Yes, including treading water. I had formal training.

 

[Bugman]

Well, I could at one time anyway. Don't remember how old I was, but my late brother taught me in the pool of some godforsaken motel in Hutchinson Kansas. Before that I just messed around in the water or floated on something. If the need arose I could probably make it to land, so long as it was not too far away.

 

[GQguy]

Mile swim done!

 

[ticklemepls]

i love to swim... i swim quite well actually (thank you swim team in middle school)... treading water? eh piece of cake 🙂

 

[milagros317]

Yes, I know how to swim. I was taught by my father at age seven.

When I was fifteen I took an American Red Cross Junior Lifesaving course.

I still enjoy swimming but don't do it as often as when I was a teenager.

 

[GQguy]

i love to swim... i swim quite well actually (thank you swim team in middle school)... treading water? eh piece of cake 🙂

Ughhhh. Had to learn to tread water with full gear...flight suit, boots, vest, helmet and gloves. It's not so bad now, but to start? Man was I sucking alot of water!

 

[voided9]

My mom got me swimming lessons when I was pretty young... I didn't like it too much at first but I eventually grew to love swimming. =]

 

[ticklemepls]

Ughhhh. Had to learn to tread water with full gear...flight suit, boots, vest, helmet and gloves. It's not so bad now, but to start? Man was I sucking alot of water!

LOL i can only imagine- not my idea of fun lol... i probably would have ended up on the bottom to start out 🙂

 

[silversurf828]

I was a lifeguard and on the swim team for 6 years. /flex

But yes, I have made saves on tons of people that don't know how to swim.

 

[PhoenixRising]

Yes, learned at age 8.