Maggie's Farm

I have been interested in the idea of "drown proofing" for both adults and babies. See videos on the SEALs BUD's.

With babies, an instructor will have them fall face first into the pool. The falling is important. If you are just jumping in, or climbing, the mental side of it is not as stressed. Clearly that is not a first day kind of experience, but a needed part of the training.

For youths/adults, having someone drop debris like sails / ropes possibly while blindfolded and bound (ankles & wrists) might make sense. I have not seen this, but it feels like it could be incorporated into a typical summer camp water safety course. Or, in your typical back yard pool, a little velcro to bind and then drop a towel on their head where they'll break the surface.

Back in the day, I don't recall if it was at Scout camp or just the city swimming pool, we got instruction on how to pull someone out of the water - at the edge of a pool. This too is a skill to have in your kit.


In college I rowed crew, and one day, one of the boats made a huge error and undid all their gunnels - needed to remove the oars - but that also meant there was no longer any stability - and the boat flipped at the dock. Freezing cold of course. I had an argument with one of my friends, as I grabbed his shirt and held him at the dock, he thought I was trying to lift him out and he didn't want the shirt torn.

Panic comes in many forms. I am thinking of the videos of soldiers picking up their arm after being hit on d-day.