***Swimmers being rescued***

[Susan Horn]

Have you ever gone to any of the SWFD or TDC meetings and expressed your concern? Talking about it on a forum is going to get you nowhere. If you are that concerned for the safety of the public, you need to show up and speak out.

This-n-that,

You're preaching to the choir--I am always encouraging Sowallers to show up at meetings, speak up, participate in democracy! Yes, I have been to more county meetings than I can count over many years, and have served on a number of county boards myself (appointed, unpaid, not elected positions; and I never asked to be appointed but have willingly served whenever asked).

I have personally called and/or written WCSB and BCC members about this, and attended Park and Rec meetings. Have not tried TDC or SWFD but they don't seem to me to have anything to do with getting swim classes into schools; and I've noticed over all these years of meeting-attending that the TDC and the BCC and the School Board and so on, they don't much like playing together. They all seem to want their own worlds to be compartmentalized. Or maybe there's something in the way each group is set up that legally keeps them from coordinating efforts better. I do know Gov. Bush decreed a few years ago that school districts and county commissions should get together and plan together.

So I don't know where to go from here, and besides, I'm too busy making a living, putting my children through college and working on EAR-based amendments (Planning Commission) just now to take on another crusade. I'm only one woman! Would love to see someone pick up this torch and run with it. For instance, parents with school-age kids involved in PTOs (which is what I was when I was trying to make this happen years ago).

 

[Susan Horn]

We had swim lessons at the community pool as little kids - someone not knowing how to swim was a rarity because we spent so much time in and around water. I was quite surprised to find out that there wasn't a community pool here that offered lessons considering the amount of water surrounding us.

The summer camp I worked at made everyone take a similar swim test w/ shoes, long pants, and long sleeved shirt in the chilly lake - even though every counselor was a lifeguard and wearing life preservers in boats was mandatory.

Indeed! I can only remember one or two kids I knew who couldn't swim well, and they missed out on a lot because that was THE main activity of hot months where I grew up (Montgomery, AL). Whether in a pool, the lake, the river, a pond at a friend's farm,or at the coast, we were in the water as many hours a day as adults in charge would allow. Shriveled fingers, green hair from chlorine, or lakewater musky smelling hair, blue lips!

We were also drilled by our parents to respect the Gulf and all bodies of water, and I knew all about rip tides and undertows and what to do if caught in one by the time I was 8 years old. We stayed out of the sun in the hottest part of the day, because DUH, that's when you get too much sun too easily. Besides, it's lunch time and nap time! And I was a tourist. So why aren't tourist parents teaching THEIR kids this stuff? Where's the disconnect?

 

[ItzKatzTime]

This-n-that,

You're preaching to the choir--I am always encouraging Sowallers to show up at meetings, speak up, participate in democracy! Yes, I have been to more county meetings than I can count over many years, and have served on a number of county boards myself (appointed, unpaid, not elected positions; and I never asked to be appointed but have willingly served whenever asked).

I have personally called and/or written WCSB and BCC members about this, and attended Park and Rec meetings. Have not tried TDC or SWFD but they don't seem to me to have anything to do with getting swim classes into schools; and I've noticed over all these years of meeting-attending that the TDC and the BCC and the School Board and so on, they don't much like playing together. They all seem to want their own worlds to be compartmentalized. Or maybe there's something in the way each group is set up that legally keeps them from coordinating efforts better. I do know Gov. Bush decreed a few years ago that school districts and county commissions should get together and plan together.

So I don't know where to go from here, and besides, I'm too busy making a living, putting my children through college and working on EAR-based amendments (Planning Commission) just now to take on another crusade. I'm only one woman! Would love to see someone pick up this torch and run with it. For instance, parents with school-age kids involved in PTOs (which is what I was when I was trying to make this happen years ago).

Susan Horn gets 5 Stars ***** for all that she's done in her life here in SoWal!!!! She deserves to chill!!!!!

We can all learn from her wisdom through her posts!!!!

 

[ItzKatzTime]

Personally I think it is more the mentality of "I am on vacation I am immune to danger."

I think people read the information about the Flag system but just don't process it. I think they just can not bring themselves to think that a vacation destination can be dangerous.

I think many have no experience with the conditions of the water until they have to actually experience it, then sometimes it is too late.

This attitude of nothing will hurt me, I am on vacation is not just at the beach either, it happens many places. You have people who do not know how to ski, suddenly think that they can just put on skis and take off down the mountain. At Disney World you have parents allowing very young children to go pretty much anywhere by themselves, thinking no one would harm them there.

So until someone can figure out how to change the mindset of a tourist concering danger, not sure if anything will help.

I so agree! When you go off on vacation you are in a different frame of mind. When we were in the jungles of Mexico one time we got ourselves into what could have been a bad situation. It was scary enough. Makes my heart beat fast now just thinking about it. Our tour guide was white as a sheet and he was of Mexican decent. Between the three of us....this was me!:leaving:

 

[Susan Horn]

Susan Horn gets 5 Stars ***** for all that she's done in her life here in SoWal!!!! She deserves to chill!!!!!

We can all learn from her wisdom through her posts!!!!

Oh I am SO ready to sip a pina colada on the beach. Thanks for that lovely image! And for the kind words. Means a lot to me.

 

[Beach Runner]

Knowing how to swim was actually a college requirement - they decreed that it was a necessary life skill, so every freshman had to take a swim test (think it was a 100m swim and a 5 min treading water) and if you didn't pass, you had to take swimming as your gym rotation.

At Tulane we had to pass a swimming test in order to graduate. I don't know of any colleges/universities that have that requirement anymore, do you?

My nephews and brother-in-law are here at the beach, surfing.

 

[Andy A]

At Tulane we had to pass a swimming test in order to graduate. I don't know of any colleges/universities that have that requirement anymore, do you?

My nephews and brother-in-law are here at the beach, surfing.

This brings forth a question. My wife and I just returned from the walkover and double red flags are flying. There are three small kids with boogie boards catching the surf as it breaks near the shore. They are being supervised. There are also several surfers out further and nearer the public access. What should be done with these two situations, if anything, when double red flags are flying? Being a local, I understand surfers are certainly a cut above the normal swimmer. But when they are seen that far out in the water by the tourista to some it means, "Oh, its alright. See those guys out there. Any input regarding beach etiquette would be appreciated.

 

[teamc]

This-n-that,

You're preaching to the choir--I am always encouraging Sowallers to show up at meetings, speak up, participate in democracy! Yes, I have been to more county meetings than I can count over many years, and have served on a number of county boards myself (appointed, unpaid, not elected positions; and I never asked to be appointed but have willingly served whenever asked).

I have personally called and/or written WCSB and BCC members about this, and attended Park and Rec meetings. Have not tried TDC or SWFD but they don't seem to me to have anything to do with getting swim classes into schools; and I've noticed over all these years of meeting-attending that the TDC and the BCC and the School Board and so on, they don't much like playing together. They all seem to want their own worlds to be compartmentalized. Or maybe there's something in the way each group is set up that legally keeps them from coordinating efforts better. I do know Gov. Bush decreed a few years ago that school districts and county commissions should get together and plan together.

So I don't know where to go from here, and besides, I'm too busy making a living, putting my children through college and working on EAR-based amendments (Planning Commission) just now to take on another crusade. I'm only one woman! Would love to see someone pick up this torch and run with it. For instance, parents with school-age kids involved in PTOs (which is what I was when I was trying to make this happen years ago).

i have tried the tdc as have others. i'm sure you were given the SAME OL' LINE. "we don't need to do that. we're just a small town."

 

[teamc]

We had swim lessons at the community pool as little kids - someone not knowing how to swim was a rarity because we spent so much time in and around water. I was quite surprised to find out that there wasn't a community pool here that offered lessons considering the amount of water surrounding us.

Knowing how to swim was actually a college requirement - they decreed that it was a necessary life skill, so every freshman had to take a swim test (think it was a 100m swim and a 5 min treading water) and if you didn't pass, you had to take swimming as your gym rotation.

The summer camp I worked at made everyone take a similar swim test w/ shoes, long pants, and long sleeved shirt in the chilly lake - even though every counselor was a lifeguard and wearing life preservers in boats was mandatory.

I took Boater's Safety Class because if you were certified, you could drive the boat at a younger age - the Department of Natural Resources offered it for a nominal fee.

in new york city, they give free swimming lessons to people of all ages at the YMCA on the upper west side.

 

[seagrovegirl]

I really like the billboard idea...........lets see what we can do. Don't like billboards, but I think this idea has possibilities.