This is so true. A few years ago at a pool my son (who’s had swimming lessons) got stuck under a life ring and couldn’t get back up to the surface. At first I thought he was just playing under water, but as I watched from the side of the pool, I realized he was struggling. I was about to kick off my shoes and jump in when the lifeguard finally caught my eye with a look of “should I do something?” I yelled, “YES!” and she dove in and saved him. It was terrifying for both him and me.
Wow. That is scary. I am not afraid of the water but I haven’t been to a water park in about 20 years and will never ever go again. I was in an inner tube and somehow fell through so I was lodged in there. I got bounced under and hit my head very hard on the side of the slide. I could have been knocked unconscious. I hope people watch their children as carefully as you were on that day.
I just recalled the terror I felt when my airway was
blocked by phlegm (bronchitis). It’s like nothing else
I can recall. I was just able to move enough to unblock
it. If drowning is like that, one has indeed about 10
to 30 seconds to act.
I was caught in a riptide at the beach in LA, but I didn’t realize it because of the wave action. It felt like I was moving forward, but I was being dragged back. A lifeguard spotted me and pulled me out. I was not yet in danger, but he saw a situation that I wasn’t aware of, that could have gotten worse quickly.
Drowning does not look like drowning, and humans are not amphibians. Interesting article.
Why did you wait?