A PSA - do you know what drowning looks like?

[rubysoho]

http://mariovittone.com/2010/05/154/

The new captain jumped from the cockpit, fully dressed, and sprinted through the water. A former lifeguard, he kept his eyes on his victim as he headed straight for the owners who were swimming between their anchored sportfisher and the beach. “I think he thinks you’re drowning,” the husband said to his wife. They had been splashing each other and she had screamed but now they were just standing, neck-deep on the sand bar. “We’re fine, what is he doing?” she asked, a little annoyed. “We’re fine!” the husband yelled, waving him off, but his captain kept swimming hard. ”Move!” he barked as he sprinted between the stunned owners. Directly behind them, not ten feet away, their nine-year-old daughter was drowning. Safely above the surface in the arms of the captain, she burst into tears, “Daddy!”

[OakLeaf]

Wow, thanks for that. Not that I'm a strong enough swimmer to rescue anyone, but thanks.

After all these years, I now forgive the woman who yanked me by the arm from the bottom of the swimming pool where I was fond of sitting, as a child.

[owlice]

Thank you, Ruby. Valuable article, and I'm spreading the word in other forums and on Facebook.

[rubysoho]

Thank you, Ruby. Valuable article, and I'm spreading the word in other forums and on Facebook.

I read it this morning and had to repost it here. I had no idea it was such a silent event! And that so many children drown close to their parents because the parents aren't aware of what drowning actually looks like. It is heartbreaking....

[Kathi]

Thank you for this article,

This is exactly what happened to me at at a water park. We were in a wave pool and the waves pulled me into the deeper end of the pool. I struggled to get back to the shallow end, kept fighting to stay above water, couldn't yell for help. Fortunately, my SO was nearby, knew I couldn't swim, and was able to reach me and pull me to safety. It all happened so fast but I often wondered why the lifeguard, who was standing on the side of the pool near me, didn't do anything. I remember him looking at me then looking away.

Until I read this I didn't realize I was drowning.

[TsPoet]

While rafting with my mom and brother and friends years ago, my mom fell out. My brother was right there and did nothing. I was in another raft and we had to paddle really hard in the wrong direction through some rough water to get to her.
This was 20 years ago and she has never forgiven him. He had no idea, he thought floating (in a life jacket) through that water would be fun and just left her to it.
I wonder if I should forward this article to them, or let it go.

[lph]

Thank you for this article,

This is exactly what happened to me at at a water park. We were in a wave pool and the waves pulled me into the deeper end of the pool. I struggled to get back to the shallow end, kept fighting to stay above water, couldn't yell for help. Fortunately, my SO was nearby, knew I couldn't swim, and was able to reach me and pull me to safety. It all happened so fast but I often wondered why the lifeguard, who was standing on the side of the pool near me, didn't do anything. I remember him looking at me then looking away.

Until I read this I didn't realize I was drowning.

This gave me the shivers How terrifying.

I'm a strong swimmer now, but used to be pretty scared of water, and the idea of drowning still scares me a lot.