Sink or Swim?

[Scouse]

So, same old summer stories about people drowning in the sea / in rivers. Largely Asian families (IIRC it's the third story about an Asian family that have jumped in after one of their kids and, very tragically, drowned). Got lots of Asian mates and probably only 25% of them are competent swimmers beyond doggy paddle for 5 mins.

I'm nagging a mate about learning to swim because, at 52, he's just had his second child. What if Britain sinks? Gotta be able to tread water long enough for the French to save us. They don't call them Frogs for nothing you know.

So: CAN YOU SWIM? 800m minimum. Think you're able to tread water for minimum 30 mins? Maybe float for an hour or two if your life depended on it?

If you can't - never mind the risk - you're missing out on one of life's greatest pleasures.

If you can sort of swim and don't get why swimming is amazing, then you've only ever done it in shit places. Get a mask and snorkel and head to a beach.

 

[SilverHood]

I used to swim 20-30km a week when I was a teenager. Five or six 90-120 minute sessions a week for years. You could be the greatest swimmer in the world but if you get in trouble in the water, you're really in trouble no matter how good you are. The worst thing that ever happened to me was a bad case of leg cramp. I was in the middle lane and had just pushed off the wall when I feel cramp coming on. No biggy, I can make it to the other end in no time. I got calf cramp and foot cramps fairly regularly (every two-three weeks), but this time, my whole leg locked up. Couldn't bend my knee. Then my other leg began cramping hard. Same thing. It was like having two deadweights tied around my waist. I flipped onto my back and tried making my way to the end of the pool, but I was getting dragged underwater between strokes, and I was in the way of other swimmers going full speed. If they colided with me I'd sink. So I had to pull myself onto the lane ropes. Got myself to the end of the pool but struggled to get out on my own. Once I got out, my legs were so stiff that they poked straight out over the pool edge, like some sort of calisthenics exercide. I got some help onto a bench, some water, and after 5 minutes, I was able to force my knees to bend. No more swimming that day. If that had happened in the ocean, ooooof, I don't want to think about it. I might have made it to shore. Maybe not. Even today I am extremely comfortable in water and can probably float / thread water for a few hours if my life depended on it. But if you cramp up, your chances are low. If you're not an experienced swimmer and you get in trouble, you'll panic and drown almost every time. The key to survival is energy conservation. One small arm movement, one small leg movement, just enough to keep you afloat. Ideally you have practised this before you need to know how much movement you need.

 

[Scouse]

Yep @SilverHood. 100% agree with everything you wrote. I've not had cramp that bad (single leg). But I know what you mean.

However. You can swim. The chances of you drowning are really really low. If you got into trouble on the sea (riptide etc.) you'd probably be able to get yourself out of it, or at least be able to keep yourself afloat until a rescue happened.

Maybe I've too high an expectation of average joe. Lifelong kayaker so I have very strong feelings on the subject.

 

[Deebs]

@SilverHood you might be a great swimmer but fuck me I was sinking when reading that wall of text.

 

[Scouse]

I'll admit @Deebs - I was hoping for some paragraphing

 

[Deebs]

I'll admit @Deebs - I was hoping for some paragraphing

Yeh some paragraphing might have helped with your cramping

 

[SilverHood]

Yeh some paragraphing might have helped with your cramping

Well, if I had an edit button I'd go back and reformat. Too late!