For this landlubber swimming is not my second nature

While most people enthusiastically jump into a glistening swimming pool in the summer, I like to sit on the side. It’s not because I want to work on my tan. It’s because I never learned how to swim. Yes, you read that correctly. I’m an adult who can’t swim.
Why didn’t I learn? When I was five years old my parents signed me up for swimming lessons. My classmates loved splashing around and jumping into the shallow end of the pool. I was mortified. I struggled with putting my head below water, refused to jump in — even if the instructor was standing right there — and never let go of the edge. I passed that first year of swimming lessons but never went back.
This week I’ve worked on a story about the importance of people learning to swim. This year there have been 12 drownings reported in Kansas and 24 in Missouri. These numbers are surprisingly high and we’re only half way through the summer.
Over the years I’ve had people teach me the basic strokes and I can keep my head above water if need be, but I still stay clear of the deep end. When I was in junior high my physical education teacher had me jump in the deep end of the pool as part of an exercise. I told her multiple times I couldn’t swim but it was part of the assignment and I almost drowned. Luckily, there were people around; they pulled me out and I completed the assignment in the shallow end.

BUT WHAT if I had jumped into a lake or pond and that had happened. All of the drownings reported this year have been in lakes or ponds, not pools. At these locations there is minimal supervision and sometimes no lifeguard on duty. People rarely wear life jackets. Just because you believe you are a strong swimmer, lifejackets should still be worn. Anything could happen. The current could change or you could fall off a boat.
As I researched information for my article I began to realize that it is important for people of all ages to know how to swim. A co-worker mentioned that swimming should be similar to learning how to crawl or walk. He’s right. Knowing how to swim is necessary and can save your life.
When having fun in the sun this summer remember to be smart. Wear lifejackets, supervise your children and don’t dive into unfamiliar water. As for me, I’ll stay on the sidelines this summer but maybe next year I’ll take up lessons again.