SWIMMING

As I was looking through the local, national and world news today...the article that caught my eye most...was the tragedy of 6 teens drowning in Louisiana. A 7th was rescued.

It appears they may have been wading in shallow water and in a brief instant, one...or all of them...stepped off into a, what was later found to be an 18 foot deep, sinkhole. Probably in an effort to save one another...they instead dragged one another to their deaths.

In a scenario nearly as bad...there were adults nearby...who could not save them...because they didn't know how to swim. To have that image implanted in ones mind for the rest of your life...is equally tragic.

I will guess that few...if any...of the victims...as well as the witnesses...knew how to swim. Even if 1 or 2 of them 'did' know how...in the moments of sheer panic...they were likely overcome by those who couldn't swim.

We are, as a people it seems, intrigued by water. In these days of hot, humid weather...it feels good to romp in the coolness of water. It's refreshing. But I can't imagine being around...or letting my children or grandchildren be around...a large body of water...knowing that they and I...couldn't swim if needed.

Where does our common sense go in these situations?

Now days...there is NO reason for a person...child or adult...to NOT know some basic swimming maneuvers. Many city organizations give swim lessons...and there are other civic organizations that would pay the expense of lessons...for those who can't afford it.

These families involved...probably used the excuse they couldn't afford to teach their children...or themselves...to swim. But they have now paid too high of a price...for not having done it.

If you don't know how...learn to swim. It might one day, save your, or someone else's, life.


Dan