My Swimming Skills
Scout wrote:
During my certification test, after treading water for an hour, I was
instructed to approach the (flailing) instructor and make a rescue, after
assessing the chances of doing so successfully. Unbeknownst to me, the
instructor planned to use me as an example (because I was the biggest male
in the class) of how a panicked swimmer can turn on even the strongest
rescuer. He did teach me a good lesson but he learned one as well. I broke
free of his trap by breaking one of his ribs
OUCH!!
... at which point, I had to
actually rescue him. It turned out that being a wrestler is a lot like being
a lifeguard. Who knew?
I bet that'll larn him.
Lifeguard training is a very good idea for sailors. If you
hang around the water long enough, you'll almost certainly
be in a position to rescue somebody sometime.
I've pulled a bunch of people from the water, don't know if
any of them were certain to drown without me though. The
weirdest rescue is when I brought a person out of the surf
by crawling along the bottom.
Fresh Breezes- Doug King
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