What is Swimming as a Survival Skill? Things You Need To Know…
Some people ask whether swimming is a survival skill. And it is easy to see where they are coming from because, mostly, we swim for recreation.
Swimming is a sport! But as you will see here, knowing how to swim can save your bacon many times. While animals have an innate ability to swim, you must learn because you are human.
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The good thing is that you can enjoy swimming as a sport and use it for survival.
If you like, you can refer to this as a survival swim. The sooner you can introduce your children to it the better.
With water levels in the seas rising thanks to global warming, hurricanes, floods, and heavy rains afflict our livelihoods every year.
Thus, it can really help to learn how to swim, not only for sport but also as a survival skill. The same way that you pack a survival kit and keep it ready is also the way you should acquire some important skills.
Survival swimming involves much more than just swimming, floating and surviving.
What is survival swimming?
When you learn survival swimming, you acquire skills that can save you from the danger of drowning. In some instances, it can also be referred to as rescue swimming, where you learn skills that can help you rescue another swimmer if they are in danger.
This type of swimming is also referred to as the ability to swim to safety if you fall in a large amount of water. Basically, the survival training involves rolling into the water, treading for 60 seconds, and swimming for 50 meters.
You have to train with an expert in personal survival swimming techniques. This kind of skill is not just for children; it is good for everyone.
Whether you are just starting out in swimming or you are an experienced swimmer, you can do very well with your swimming skills.
What does survival swimming involve?
First, the trainer will teach the student how to roll into the water, how to tread and how to swim 50 meters.
Those three are the basics of swimming for survival. But there is something extra. For instance, the skills in swimming that you will learn here involve how you can conserve your energy.
When learning the five basic swimming skills, you find that lifting your head to breathe is pretty much part of the process. But this consumes a lot of energy.
When you are swimming to survive, you need to conserve your energy since you don’t know when rescue will come.
Survival swim enhances child development and fitness in adults
Swim survival skills are good for both children and adults. Children who swim enjoy faster cognitive development. They also enjoy faster physical development.
Even learning the 5 basic swimming skills alone helps quite a lot. Research has shown that children who start swimming in their infancy develop faster, are better in class, and learn to solve problems faster.
But it is not just the children who enjoy the benefits of survival swimming. Even grownups do, but from a different perspective.
Survival skill is a confidence builder. Thus, if you take part in other water sports such as sailing, kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, and so on, you will perform well. You are already confident that you can survive a fall in the water.
When you are confident in your ability to survive a water disaster, you can swim longer and harder. This will make you fitter and further enhance your skills.
Basically, children as well as grownups will enjoy tens of benefits from survival swimming.
Survival swimming lowers the risk of drowning
Children below the age of 4 face a high risk of drowning. But even older children of 4 to 6 years of age can drown easily.
When you introduce your children to swimming, you improve their chances of surviving a fall in the water. If you go ahead and train them on survival swimming, you almost eliminate the risk of drowning.
In fact, research shows that teaching children within the age brackets that we mentioned above reduces the risk of drowning by 88%.
Even adults face the risk of drowning, for example, when they swim for long distances. However, with survival swimming training, the chances of surviving are quite high.
What are the most vital water survival tips?
Having some skills can keep you alive when you are caught in a drowning accident, flooding, or when your boat capsizes. Here are some of the most vital water survival skills that you should learn:
1. Master Treading Water
Treading water is a fundamental skill that can make a significant difference in a water emergency. Practice the eggbeater kick or scissor kick to keep your head above water efficiently.
Learning to tread water not only conserves energy but also buys you valuable time in an emergency, allowing you to assess and plan your next move.
You can learn how to tread water in the deep end of the pool. Once you learn it, it is so easy, and enjoyable. Treading water consumes little energy, so you can gather your wits if you find yourself in a serious situation.
2. Know how to float
Knowing how to float in water builds your confidence, and it can be a game-changer in precarious situations.
Whether it is floating on the back float or the elementary backstroke, knowing floating techniques provides a moment of respite, allowing you to regain composure and plan your next course of action.
Regular floating while swimming practice builds the muscle memory needed to float effortlessly.
3. Skills to avoid drowning
You cannot be a real swimmer without knowing a few drowning prevention skills. They are so vital for water survival.
You need to know what to do!
If someone is struggling in the water, throw them a flotation device or extend a pole to help them reach safety. Also, know a few things about rescue breathing and CPR; these skills can be lifesaving in emergencies.
Recognizing the signs of distress in others and knowing how to respond are essential components of water safety.
4. Know how to scull
Sculling is a special swimming technique, that can help you get out of the water as fast as possible. In this skill, your hands move in a figure-eight motion to create more propelling force.
Building this important swimming skill provides stability in the water, and it can assist in maintaining balance during various water activities.
Whether you are learning how to swim alone or you are an experienced swimmer, incorporating sculling into your repertoire enhances your overall water survival capabilities.
Conclusion
Why is swimming important for survival, and should you learn how to do it? Drowning-related deaths account for 7% of all accident deaths in the world, annually.
With such worrying statistics, it is best to know a few personal survival swimming techniques. In the water, especially when swimming in the open water, you might need everything you have since so many things can go wrong.