Re: non-swimmer

Chris is right - basic water safety is something that is very useful. I
teach as many kids as I can the Royal Life Saving Society (UK) Rescue
Skills 1&2 syllabus and/or water safety awards. These include non-entry
rescues for non-swimmers ( e.g. throwing a float , reaching , using a
rope) and very basic water survival techniques . e.g. how to keep calm ,
float, conserve energy.

I just don't feel that a kid should be denied advancement if he can't swim.
I will dig out the child mortality stats. in the next few days , but the
major killers are home and road accidents. Drowning is a very rare cause
of death in comparison with the major killers. And incidentaly, I don't
what the situation is in the US , but in most cases of death by immersion
in the UK the cause of death is hypothermia , not water inhalation. Some
authorities say that the biggest problem is people who try to swim to
safety, become tired and sucumb to hypothermia. The RLSS advised HELP
and HUDDLE , mushroom floating etc. rather than swimming for the shore in
most cases.

IAN

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