Where the hell are parent's brains?

The one top news story I didn't expect to hear about in Canada was about child drownings in pools and rivers. During the past month there have been at least 3 a week, from infants to a 13-year-old a few days ago.

WTF?

A bit of my background to start this. My parents got me Red Cross swimming lessons at age 5. I could stay afloat, but not really swim.

When I was seven, I visited my grandparents in the Dominican Republic. One of the first thing my Grandfather did was to toss me into the ocean from a rock. He told me to make it to shore...I did and learned to like swimming.

I received my original NAUI certificate at age 13 and my instructor's certificate. I earned my master diver's certificate from them at age 18.

Flash forward. My youngest son is a native Floridian. There aren't many of those because of all of the snowbirds and old people that have moved there, but my son was born in Tampa General.

At that time, there was a plethora of news reports of people drowning in local pools. My wife at the time and I enrolled Cory in swim classes at age 11-months. By one-year-old, he could easily swim across the narrow side of the pool.

At age two, he totally freaked the lifeguards at the pool of the cruise ship we were on by jumping into a pool with waves and making up to the other side. By age three, he was approved for unlimited access to the swim parks at both Six Flags and Myrtle Beach.

Why don't parents who either have or live near swimming pools or the ocean or a river understand the importance of teaching their children to swim?

We've had several teenagers here drown recently and I can think of no excuse for it. In my opinion, any parent who loses a child to drowning in a backyard pool, it is their fault.

Comments: 16

Mary Ann Slavcheff Jul 15, 2010, 6:47pm UTC

Swimming pools are more dangerous than guns. More children die in pools every year than die as a result of gunshots.
It is scary.

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Kerrell Goolsby Jul 15, 2010, 6:48pm UTC

The problem is that parents don't want to be parents. They expect schools, swimming areas, theatres and shopping malls as free day care. That's part of the problem!

Walker Bennett, SF Author Jul 15, 2010, 7:32pm UTC

I can't agree more! I have a total of 10 children, 4 adopted. They all swim like fishes and are still here.

Leah Christensen Jul 15, 2010, 7:39pm UTC

And so do their Mothers, I'm told. I've met Mary, and seen her in action. You, Mary, Cory, and I had a ton of fun in that pool in Arizona. The three of you performed some pretty impresstve water acrobatics, and I could tell y'all really knew what you were doing.

Walker Bennett, SF Author Jul 15, 2010, 7:45pm UTC

After my early experience, I realized that swimming can be amazing fun. Not just in pools. I used to be able to free dive to 80 feet and still work for two minutes. I've seen Cory dive to 40 feet and have a minute's worth of air left.

Leah Christensen Jul 15, 2010, 7:48pm UTC

Did he ever freak out the lifeguards at those parks by making them think he wasn't coming up? lol

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Peter Joseph Swanson Jul 15, 2010, 6:50pm UTC

Because the farm had ponds, dad had us all take swimming lessons at the YMCA right away.

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Leah Christensen Jul 15, 2010, 7:02pm UTC

In 1986 when I was 4 years old, we bought a cottage on Lake Huron. By that time I'd already earned my yellow badge (3rd level) and I knew how far to go. Even so, Mom, Dad, or a neighbour were OUT THERE WATCHING!!! Even if Mom or Dad weren't there, they knew we were, and which neighbour was watching.

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J. McDole Jul 15, 2010, 7:21pm UTC

While I agree that this type of accident happens way too much, I also think it's very easy to judge from the sidelines. Yes, more parents and kids could exert caution. But it only takes a moment. I nearly drowned at a public baby pool as a toddler with my mother sitting with me.

Leah Christensen Jul 15, 2010, 7:30pm UTC

When the parents do all they can, fine!! The problem is when the parents DO NOT do all they can, such as turning their backs for a minute, or even a second. Same goes for really small children in bath tubs. Hell, a child could also drown in a rain barrel, or a bird bath.

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Lyn Owen Jul 16, 2010, 12:59am UTC

I read recently about a child that went out the dog door and drown in the backyard pool. The Mother couldn't believe her kid would crawl out the dog door. I would look at a dog door like a kid magnet. Swim lessons and/or a lock on the dog door could have saved that kid.

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Melanie S. Jul 16, 2010, 10:21am UTC

I agree and yet I don't. Even the best adult swimmer can run into problems. My husband's "Uncle" died from drowning while fishing. This was the type of man that was always on or in the water. He was a strong swimmer. His friend that was with him also drowned. They were never able to figure out exactly what happened, but they think one died trying to save the other.

We also have had an insane amount of reported drownings, not just children either. I agree with you because I think a lot of it happens and could have been prevented. Recently, at Lake Michigan, we had a red flag day. Red flag day means that there are too strong of currents and rip tides. Red flag = stay out of the water.

And yet there were hundreds of people swimming... and yes there was a couple of drownings.

People need to use common sense. Teach your children to swim. Teach your children water safety. Keep an close eye on your children in the water. Never, ever swim alone. Heed warnings. Enough said.

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Diane Huizenga Jul 16, 2010, 11:48am UTC

It boggles the mind.

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Marsha C. Jul 16, 2010, 12:39pm UTC

I am all over the kids...and the other adults in the house, that I won't let the little ones get in without proper adult supervision.....and I have my eye on each of them the whole time too.
Many tell me I am too paranoid, but others tell me that's a good thing.

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Monica C. Jul 18, 2010, 2:28am UTC

My twins are in swim lessons right now. They are learning some steps, but not how to tread water. I am trying to show them since their teacher is not. I learned to swim at age 7, my twins are 4, almost 5. Learning to swim is VERY important, whether near a body of water or not..great post Walker..

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Alisha Repass Jul 23, 2010, 8:47pm UTC

I agree with all of this! Especially since I was almost one of those children. My parents never taught me how to swim or took me somewhere for me to learn. I'm 16, and my friend had to teach me how to swim just the other week. I've been in the ocean, rivers, pools, lakes, you name it! And I wasn't taught how to swim until just the other week. That's pitiful, but I am proud to say I can swim!

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Where the hell are parent's brains?

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