The recent drowning deaths of two children in Monroe Harbor brought to light a serious problem: Far too many Americans do not know how to swim.
If the grieving mother had known how to swim and had made sure her 8-year-old daughter had learned to swim, she could have saved her infant son while the girl treaded water or helped her.
Instead, being unable to swim herself, the mother could not help her children.
Now her children are dead, and the fact that their deaths were preventable makes the tragedy even worse.
Swimming ability is a critical lifesaving skill that doesn’t occur to most people until an emergency.
Children should learn to swim shortly after they learn to follow directions, and it’s a glaring weakness in our education system that there is no formal structure for that.
The need to survive in deep water can sneak up at any time.
It’s important for everyone, regardless of age, to be ready.
