[SportiGrl]

<p><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38533071/ns/us_news-life?GT1=43001" target="_blank">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38533071/ns/us_news-life?GT1=43001</a><span style="display:none;"> </span></p>
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<p>water safety education, life jackets and swim lessons ..... please.</p>

 

[Sisu]

<p>So very sad.</p>

 

[GaReb770]

<p>I grew up very close to where these kids drowned.  I played often on the banks of the Red River growing up but we always knew not to go into it because it was so unpredictable.  You could see sand barges in the middle of it that would make you think the river is very shallow which it is in parts.  But it's always been known to have sudden drop-offs that made it very unsafe to wade in.</p>

 

[muzicgrl]

<p>I will never understand why people dont have their children taught to swim. This is a basic skill that every single person should know.</p>

 

[SportiGrl]

<p>we couldn't afford swim lessons growing up ... my brothers and I taught ourselves when mom took us to a lake and we watched others while wading in the shallows  ... we were lucky ...</p>
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<p>many people, more blacks than whites, don't have access to pools or lessons and if the parents are afraid of swimming that fear is passed to the kids most of the time ... my mom knew how to swim/float so the fear wasn't instilled in us and we just 'learned' with access  ...</p>
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<p>our local schools have almost all stopped including swim lessons as part of the phys ed programs due to bussing and time issues  ... our Y used to teach all the county kids in 3-5 grades about 8 lessons a year ... not much,but better than nothing ... and we always talked with the kids about basic water safety, helping others w/o endangering yourself and lifejackets  ...</p>
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<p>this story breaks my heart.</p>

 

[ssstencil]

<p>It is sad.....we grew up on the Amite River and we never took swimming lessons, however we were all good swimmers, skiers, because in the summer we just walked outside the back door and jumped in the river.....I have made sure that my kids have had swimming lessons when they were little. Better safe than sorry.</p>
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<p>We are running a trailrun in Shreveport in Nov.</p>
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<p>It's so sad.</p>

 

[4boysmom]

<p>Even those who can swim can drown.  I swim 2500-3000meters several days a week in the pool, open water when I get the chance.  Even a triathlon start doesn't bother me.  However, last month I nearly drowned in the lake.  I had only done maybe 500meters, so it wasn't the distance.  Only thing we can figure is I was overheating in my wetsuit, which I normally don't wear.  Same thing happened in the pool when it was stupid overheated.  Scary thing is often a person drowning doesn't look like they are in distress.  They simply don't have the energy for all the trashing that people expect.</p>

 

[ssstencil]

<p>Well the sad thing is people try to save the person drowning and end up getting pulled under by the panicked person.</p>

 

[wherestheportojohn]

<p>swimming knowlege is key, yes...but lifesaving, lifejackets, and common sense are even more important</p>
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<p>my father was an EXCELLENT swimmer when he drowned in our family pond in 1991</p>
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[SportiGrl]

<p><br><br>
passive drowning ... usually a health issue brings this on or exhaustion ... no fighting to stay above water ...</p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>4boysmom</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/69254/6-dead-in-red-river-drownings#post_1929610"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>Even those who can swim can drown.  I swim 2500-3000meters several days a week in the pool, open water when I get the chance.  Even a triathlon start doesn't bother me.  However, last month I nearly drowned in the lake.  I had only done maybe 500meters, so it wasn't the distance.  Only thing we can figure is I was overheating in my wetsuit, which I normally don't wear.  Same thing happened in the pool when it was stupid overheated.  Scary thing is often a person drowning doesn't look like they are in distress.  They simply don't have the energy for all the trashing that people expect.</p>
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[SportiGrl]

<p><br><br>
we teach the kids at the Y to 'reach or throw, don't go'  and give question/answer sessions on what might be good to throw or reach to a victim and why they should NEVER jump in to try and save somebody, even if they can swim ...</p>
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<p>you have to know how to properly approach and escape from a drowning victim if need be ... so don't ever try to save a victim by swimming up to them and pulling them in ... they aren't in their right mind and will likely try to climb you like a tree  ... pushing you underwater ... </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>ssstencil</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/69254/6-dead-in-red-river-drownings#post_1929613"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>Well the sad thing is people try to save the person drowning and end up getting pulled under by the panicked person.</p>
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