Swimming - Is it important to know how to swim? And can you swim?

Question

Based off another post, I'm curious as to how people feel about swimming. It seems to be one of those easily acquired skills that people overlook because they don't think it's important enough. However a lot of accidents can be avoided if people knew how to swim.

Accepted Answer

Learning how to swim should be one of the first things a child learns. Before even walking, maybe. Something so simple can save your or your child lives.

Answer

If you can't swim you sink. We live in Fl, it was very important that my son knows how to swim, and swim well. Too many stories on the news of children, even older children, losing thier life for no reason other than not being taught to swim.

Answer

It's a survival skill.

Answer

Definitely! Learning to swim is really important here in Australia, we have school holiday lessons and even school based lessons (for an hour or so a day the kids get taken to the local pool for lessons) that start from 5 or 6yo. Because so many houses have pools I think it's important to teach kids as early as possible to swim so that should an instance where they fall into a pool occur, they're able to swim and get out rather than drowning. My parents have a pool and I can't wait for summer to start so I can begin teaching my LO.

Answer

I believe it's important to know how to swim. My daughters pediatrician used to ask her if she knew how to swim and stressed how he felt it was important for her to learn. She was in swim lessons at the time and now she loves going swimming any chance she gets. My baby likes being in the water also.

Answer

I can't swim but my children will. 
I was never a water baby/child. My mom tried but I would apparently go nuts at the sight of water so she took me out of lessons when I was young with the intention of putting me back in lessons why I was ready. I was probably ready from about age 8 onwards but I had nasal issues where anytime I would go underwater, my nose would pour out blood for 20+ mins. That stopped at about age 13. It was crazy. I also used to get hives whenever I'd touch lake water.
Clearly, swimming and the water just were never for me. I can "doggie paddle" and I'm cool with that.

Answer

Yes yes 1000 times yes!
I'm a lifeguard and have been for 4 years now. The number of grown people who do not know how to swim and have to stick to shallow water is baffling. 
Kids should be exposed to swimming at a very young age. This starts with them being comfortable in the water and getting their faces wet.

Answer

I mean, if you're okay with the possibility of drowning I guess its not important.

Answer

Can't swim!! 👋🏽

Answer

Yes, I believe it is important. I know how to swim and I think it's a skill everyone who is physically able should know.

Swimming - Is it important to know how to swim? And can you swim?

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