Drownings fuel calls for mandatory swimming lessons

[nognig]

Drownings fuel calls for mandatory swimming lessons
Mon, 25 Jul 2005 22:09:18 EDT
CBC News (http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/07/25/drown050725.html)

A spate of drownings in Ontario and Manitoba over the weekend has spurred renewed calls for better water safety and mandatory swimming lessons in schools.

Children learn about water safety.
At least six people – including a six-year-old and a teenager – drowned or are suspected of having drowned in Ontario between Friday and Sunday, while at least two others are thought to have died in Manitoba's waters.

Overall, the number of drowning deaths has been higher than usual this summer – especially in Ontario –and the majority of victims have been children.

The federal minister responsible for public health said that she plans to push for mandatory swimming lessons in schools across the country.


Lets see. 12 million people live in Ontario and 6 of them died over the weekend because of drowning. And the answer is to force all schools to teach children how to swim. This is on of the reasons I left Canada.

Big government to the rescue! When people with life threatening cancer have to wait 6 weeks to start treatment, this is where the gov't wants to spend it's money?

NN

[Hawaii_Light]

lol, you left Canada because of the threat of mandetory swimming lessons :lol: .

I bet you ten dollars that they will completly forget about it in a week.

[ßå$tĮТHÏ¿ð]

Odd, most Canadian schools have a program like this setup already. In fact I know a few highschools that actually have pools, not to mention in elementary school every 2nd week we would have a "swim" day.

Maybe us west coasters just know how to swim.

[dacanadianbomb]

Over here in Austria, I had to go through swimming lessons and basic life saving lessons .
I think it isnt a bad idea, knowing how to swim wont hurt ya, with the exception of those who are allergic to water .

I dont think the kids will mind learning how to swim if you teach them right at the proper age.As long as its not classroom time, they will most likely happily learn.

I at the age of 10 or so , thought it was the cats ass to learn how to safe someone from drowning.

[Turhapuro]

Anyone who can't swim and still goes near water, deserves to drow (unless little children, they obviously lack that kind of reasoning).

[Geezah]

Drowning is one of the biggest killers where kids are involved, maybe if they put better preventative measures in place and taught kids about the dangers, less kids would become victims.

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

Here in Australia you are taught how to swim in school.

Plus by law (in my state atleast anyway) pools must be fenced off from toddlers. ;)

[EvanL]

Here in Australia you are taught how to swim in school.

Plus by law (in my state atleast anyway) pools must be fenced off from toddlers. ;)
iots the same here. any yard with a pool deeper than 3feet is require to have a 4foot fence surrounding the area.

[von_Moo142]

Drownings fuel calls for mandatory swimming lessons
Mon, 25 Jul 2005 22:09:18 EDT
CBC News (http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/07/25/drown050725.html)

A spate of drownings in Ontario and Manitoba over the weekend has spurred renewed calls for better water safety and mandatory swimming lessons in schools.

Children learn about water safety.
At least six people – including a six-year-old and a teenager – drowned or are suspected of having drowned in Ontario between Friday and Sunday, while at least two others are thought to have died in Manitoba's waters.

Overall, the number of drowning deaths has been higher than usual this summer – especially in Ontario –and the majority of victims have been children.

The federal minister responsible for public health said that she plans to push for mandatory swimming lessons in schools across the country.


Lets see. 12 million people live in Ontario and 6 of them died over the weekend because of drowning. And the answer is to force all schools to teach children how to swim. This is on of the reasons I left Canada.

Big government to the rescue! When people with life threatening cancer have to wait 6 weeks to start treatment, this is where the gov't wants to spend it's money?

NN

Big government or not, most nations have a set of minimum goals for the education of children. There is no good reason why the ability to swim shouldn't be one of those goals.

[Geezah]

This should also apply to ponds and lakes. We have a 6' fence around our yard with a gated deck leading to our pool.

[Pille1234]

Lets see. 12 million people live in Ontario and 6 of them died over the weekend because of drowning. And the answer is to force all schools to teach children how to swim. This is on of the reasons I left Canada.

Oh I see! Life in Canada must be like hell :lol: I really can't understand why there's still people living there...

[nognig]

You guys make for a fine bunch of socialists.

Source (http://www.nsc.org/library/rept2000.htm)


Leading cause of death in children in the US (2001):

Motor Vehicle 42,900
Poisoning 14,500
Falls 14,200
Suffocation by Inhalation or Ingestion 4,200
Fires, Flames and Smoke 3,900


Remember, these number are for US children, so the death rate by all suffocation (includes choking) is 1 in 15000 (assuming 20% of American are children). Drowning is a fraction of that. Wouldn't it make more sense to spend that money on preventing motor vehicle deaths?

I'm not arguing the value of swimming lessons, just the logic of politicians who think every ill must be remedied by gov't. Swimming isn't something you can teach in a 4 hour class. It ain't gonna be cheap.

The highest rate of drowning is for children under 4 (Source) (http://www.lifesaving.com/issues/articles/13swimming_pool_drownings.html). These children won't even be affected by mandating swimming lessons in school. How often does a child drown were swimming lessons would have saved them?

Just another example of the gov't trying to keep itself in business by spending your money.

NN

[abncougar]

people need to learn how to swim before they walk. IMO, the world is 3/4 water, i hate people that can't swim. DAMN YOU ALL :bash: :fork: :-*$

[Pille1234]

You guys make for a fine bunch of socialists.
I'm all for teaching children reading, writing, arithmetic, driving a bicycle, behave savely in traffic and swimming. If that makes me a socialist than I'm fine with that definition.

[California Joe]

You guys make for a fine bunch of socialists.

Care to explain the Waffen SS guy in your avatar?

[Scrim]

What happens when some kid drowns during the "mandatory" swim lessons?

[joe mama]

If kids drowning is such a big problem that it becomes obvious that parents aren't doing enough to teach their kids to swim and/or be safe near water, therefore the government MUST step in to perform this task, then if more kids die in falls, and, I believe, they do, doesn't that mean parents aren't doing a good enough job teaching their kids how to walk and stand up? The government better immediately step in there too.

[walford]

Source (http://www.nsc.org/library/rept2000.htm)

Leading cause of death in children in the US (2001):

Motor Vehicle 42,900
Poisoning 14,500
Falls 14,200
Suffocation by Inhalation or Ingestion 4,200
Fires, Flames and Smoke 3,900 ...I'm not arguing the value of swimming lessons, just the logic of politicians who think every ill must be remedied by gov't. Of course the answer is the child drownings are much more visible/interesting to the media and public than car crashes, which are considered routine. Airline travel is far more safer, but coverage of air crashes is far greater.

During the Viet Nam war, more people were killed by drunk drivers each and every year than those who died during 8 years of war. The ratio is even more lopsided with Iraq. But the coverage is similar.

This isn't even a matter of ideology, it's just that the unusual garners more attention so the politicians feel that their careers depend upon being seen 'doing something' about it.

Part of this is to be blamed upon the public for turning to the government when in fact it is likely the problem was these kids were insufficiently supervised.

[ßå$tĮТHÏ¿ð]

So what the f*cks wrong with kids swimming? Is there something I'm missing here? Can you f*ckers not swim or something? I dont get it, whats the whole big deal here?

I learned to swim at the age of 4, being 500m from the river it is kind of "essential" thing to be able to do. When I took these "madatory" (I never seen any kids try to get outta this) swim lessons in elementary school, it was often looked forward too by me and other students.

I fail to see your guys "problem" with swimming lessons for kids. Most of you guys were probably the kids wearing funny colored life jackets floating around the pool not really doing anything ;)

[nognig]

I fail to see your guys "problem" with swimming lessons for kids. Most of you guys were probably the kids wearing funny colored life jackets floating around the pool not really doing anything ;)

I learned to swim at a young ago too. Not because of a gov't program, but because my parents thought it was a good idea.

You guys can't see the forest for the trees. Why should every problem be solved by gov't mandated action?

Should we have gov't mandated education of children in the safe handling of guns? How about training on handling fire extigushers? Imagine how many lives could be saved if your children could put out fires!

Please!! Do it for the children!!

It another example of "feel good" legislation by the gov't. It will have a negligable impact on deaths by drowing. I also provided a source that states most child drownings occur before children even enter school.

NN

[nognig]

If kids drowning is such a big problem that it becomes obvious that parents aren't doing enough to teach their kids to swim and/or be safe near water, therefore the government MUST step in to perform this task, then if more kids die in falls, and, I believe, they do, doesn't that mean parents aren't doing a good enough job teaching their kids how to walk and stand up? The government better immediately step in there too.

We have a winner!!

NN

[nognig]

You guys make for a fine bunch of socialists.

Care to explain the Waffen SS guy in your avatar?

Umm... it's a picture of a Waffen SS guy. I wanted an avatar, so I used that picture.

NN

[ßå$tĮТHÏ¿ð]

You guys can't see the forest for the trees. Why should every problem be solved by gov't mandated action?


BECAUSE THERSE PUBLIC OUTCRY FOR IT! Didnt you read the article at all? And besides, the kids will enjoy it. Quit your f00king bitching. Your trying to make this more of an issue then it actually is.

[California Joe]

You guys make for a fine bunch of socialists.

Care to explain the Waffen SS guy in your avatar?

Umm... it's a picture of a Waffen SS guy. I wanted an avatar, so I used that picture.

NN

Why? Do you sympathize with their position? They were bad. Probably dipped Jews in cement and made them take swimming lessons.

[nognig]

You guys can't see the forest for the trees. Why should every problem be solved by gov't mandated action?


BECAUSE THERSE PUBLIC OUTCRY FOR IT! Didnt you read the article at all? And besides, the kids will enjoy it. Quit your f00king bitching. Your trying to make this more of an issue then it actually is.

Actually, there wasn't a public outcry for it. That was the weird thing.

Just another politician who though "Hmm... I can make out big on this tragedy."

NN

[nognig]

You guys make for a fine bunch of socialists.

Care to explain the Waffen SS guy in your avatar?

Umm... it's a picture of a Waffen SS guy. I wanted an avatar, so I used that picture.

NN

Why? Do you sympathize with their position? They were bad. Probably dipped Jews in cement and made them take swimming lessons.

Now that made me laugh.

I'm no longer upset about the article now. I've moved on.

NN

[NicNZ]

New Zealand children learn to swim from age 5. All except the most isolated schools have swimming pools. Kids take towels to school on swimming days and every year there are inter-school swimming competitions.

I can think of no reason why a similar program should not be instituted in every country.

[Thor]

What happens when some kid drowns during the "mandatory" swim lessons?
They don't.

I bet this is a huge difference between Europe and North America.. For me it's obvious that schools should have swimming as part of the curriculum just like any other athletic sport.

When I was young it started in the third grade and those kids who couldn't swim got to learn it from a basic level. After that swimming was mandatory all the way up till second year in high school. Were it was part of your grade in athletic performance.

[Khabbi]

whats so wrong with learning how to swim in school ?

u make it sound like they are forced to kill ppl or something

whats next , canadian goverment forces kids to eat in school !??!?!

=/