Out and About August-September 2022 - issue200

Walsh’s Wisdom
WHY DROWN NOT BY DROWNING
BUT BY IGNORANCE
It is always sad to read of deaths by drowning.
Such tragedies are common but many die
not through drowning but through lack of
knowledge.
Even poor swimmers can stay afloat for days
so why do some perish within a few minutes
of getting into difficulty? Many will panic on
realising they have overstretched themselves
or are too far from the shoreline. They quickly
become exhausted and nature takes its course.
Water education, including swimming lessons,
should be an as natural part of a youngster’s
upbringing as is road safety. The first priority
is to know one’s limitations. If you want to
test yourself swim along the shoreline, not
away from it. Be aware that undercurrents are
fast-moving underwater eddies. It is possible
to escape them if you hold your nerve. An
undercurrent will tug at your legs; by using the
backstroke you will bring them to the surface.
It is difficult to see a person’s head from a
boat’s deck. Take with you a brightly coloured
flotation aid or hat. Even if you are unconscious,
you will be spotted more easily.
When in trouble our instinct is to swim to the
nearest shoreline or riverbank. It is needlessly
exhausting if to reach it you need to swim
against a current or tide. The currents will
usually deposit you on or near the banks further
downstream. All you need to do is make sure
you stay on the surface and go with the flow.
Flipping over onto your back is almost as good
as wearing water wings.
Swimmers, especially those in trouble,
needlessly struggle to keep their heads clear of
the water. It doesn’t matter if your face is in the
water for 55 seconds every minute: you need
only 5 seconds to replenish your essential air
supply. Conserve your strength and consider
your options. Constantly practise drills on how
to react to difficult situations.
Remember freshwater is less buoyant than
saltwater; more effort is needed to stay afloat
in reservoirs, rivers and lakes. Cold is a killer:
Lakes can look inviting, especially on a hot day.
A little way out or just beneath the surface it is
as bitterly cold as it is in mid-winter when you
wouldn’t dream of going for a swim. Heat loss
impairs muscle movement and induces heart
attacks, which is why people drown in placid
lakes.
Familiarise yourself with the location before
you do anything foolish. If your legs become
entangled in underwater weeds you can usually
free yourself by propelling yourself downstream
using your arms.
You wouldn’t run around a road wearing a
blindfold; why leap or dive into the water when
you cannot see what lies below the surface?
Every year people die or are crippled by
plunging into underwater hazards.
Check the water’s banks and walls and avoid
places where you cannot clamber out? Never
swim without an exit strategy. If you are a
parent teach your children by example so that
water safety becomes as natural to them as does
road safety. SAVE LIVES BY SHARING THIS
FEATURE.
If you have a book or indeed any writing needs contact Michael by emailing him at keyboardcosmetics@gmail.com
Michael Walsh Heart to Heart Poetry, Amazon Books.
Email: keyboardcosmetics@gmail.com
AMAZON ‘TOP 100
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Website: www.mikewalshwritingservices.wordpress.com