Drowning, a good read for anyone!

[vtsquid]

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

[rickyrod]

Thanks, this is good to know.

[DMG]

Thanks for posting this. I had never given this any thought at all. Might be worth a little more research.

~Dave

[Eric Esche]

Good short article to read as far as it goes.

Those who have had training in recognizing drowning victims sometimes forget that "other people" do not know much about drowning and what to look for. I received training like this through American Red Cross Lifeguard classes (taught by a former navy Seal), through a mandatory for all students Drown proofing course at Georgia Tech, through raft guide in house training, and from the US Coast Guard in my sea rescue / sea survival training, and from a former USCG Pararescueman who was in my Civil Air Patrol squadron, but the vast majority of our population, probably never have seen a drowning occur or ever receive training on this, even if they have taken swimming or scuba lessons.

USCG used to have some great 16mm "impact" films of actual drownings that occurred (and that had been filmed by accident on 8MM or super 8mm home movies) that were included in my 1980's sea survival / sea rescue course. The films were not for comsumption by the general public, but they were good training films.

They also had comparitive movie clips of the effects of temperature on "normal" heathy male swimmers taken by military instructors, and some clips on how temperature affects the young, the old, and those under the influence of alcohol or drugs, taken from real life incidents.

And folks that have not received this training often think you are paranoid about watching others and doing regular nose counts. My usual response is "Humor me". Most of them have also not had to retrieve bodies. Makes an impression on you. The phrase I kept hearing during those training films was "they were just there a minute ago...."

Eric Esche

[panicman]

thanks for posting that article. being someone with 2 small children that is very informative.

[vtsquid]

Bump....
With rendezvous coming up, I like to see Safety on everyone's mind as well as a good time!

Cant wait

[Sasquatch]

Thanks, great stuff.

[buffalofloat]

Thanks for posting this could you please post it on the rec page too in case someone missed reading it its good knowledge to know for all floaters Thanks again. I almost drowned when i was 14 pulling a stupid stunt trying to swim across Bear creek lake in eastern arkansas . And there was no way i could yell or wave my arms to get attention i was just lucky i caught my breath enough to make it to shore.

[Cowper]

Yes, Thanks!

I hope all the folks who saw me give a little assistance to two young ladies at Rockport who were not drowning, but getting tired and not yet nearing shore, now see me as something more than just a DOM. It just made sense to give them some assistance before they got really scared.

(I'm not denying that I'm a DOM, I'm just saying that's only part of the story.)

[vtsquid]

Yes, Thanks!

I hope all the folks who saw me give a little assistance to two young ladies at Rockport who were not drowning, but getting tired and not yet nearing shore, now see me as something more than just a DOM. It just made sense to give them some assistance before they got really scared.

(I'm not denying that I'm a DOM, I'm just saying that's only part of the story.)

Cowper
Being a swim instructor, dive instructor, rescue diver, rescue swimmer, trained medic and a coach/trainer... you get some "Thank yous" but mostly get a "why would you ever do such a thing"

I was raised to help before helping your self! as it sounds you were too! All you can do tho after helping some one or saving their lives, is sleep easier at night and know you did the right thing!

Ive saved as well as been saved... what comes around goes around some times its good some times its bad... Its all up to you!

Bryan