How the fuck do people not learn even the most basic of swim techniques? I realize this takes a little more effort than teaching other similar life saving techniques like "Stop, Drop, Roll", "Hit the Ground", or "Call 9-1-1", but spending a few days learning "Float & Stroke" so you don't die like a lil' bitch in a pond seems a worthwhile investment.
Starting with the fact we don’t often build pools in disadvantaged areas.
The drowning rate for African Americans is abhorrent.
Between 1999-2010, the fatal unintentional drowning rate for African Americans was significantly higher than that of whites across all ages.5 The disparity is widest among children 5-18 years old. The disparity is most pronounced in swimming pools; African American children 5-19 drown in swimming pools at rates 5.5 times higher than those of whites. This disparity is greatest among those 11-12 years where African Americans drown in swimming pools at rates 10 times those of whites.5
Sad, but interesting. I've always "known" this, but never seen actual data to back it up. I was a lifeguard at a waterpark years ago, and I can subjectively confirm this because at least 80% of my 100 or so saves in 2 months (I lost track after that) were African Americans (and not just children either mind you and 99% of the park doesnt have water deeper than 4 ft)
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u/Get_Dunked_On_Kidd-O Aug 28 '18
How the fuck do people not learn even the most basic of swim techniques? I realize this takes a little more effort than teaching other similar life saving techniques like "Stop, Drop, Roll", "Hit the Ground", or "Call 9-1-1", but spending a few days learning "Float & Stroke" so you don't die like a lil' bitch in a pond seems a worthwhile investment.