Swimmer's Daily

  • A woman swimming off the shoreline of Panama City Beach got a bit too close for comfort to a pretty big shark and someone in a nearby hotel captured the close encounter on video. Matt Yurus reports.

  • The coastal town of Pine Knoll Shores — which saw a drowning on Sunday — is going on the defensive against suggestions it is unnecessarily restricting swimming along its popular beaches.

    Red flags warning of rip current dangers have become common on the town’s beaches, even on days when conditions are considered only moderate. Red flags mean only the most experienced swimmers and surfers should consider swimming.

    “We have heard from more than a few people that our flag status has often exceeded actual conditions,” said a Tuesday post on the town’s Facebook page.

    “We will never post flags at a condition less than what the NWS (National Weather Service) recommends,” the post continued. “But if our experienced Fire/EMS captains believe conditions in PKS warrant it, we will post a flag that reflects a more severe warning than what NWS has recommended for the entire coast of N.C.”

    Read The Charlotte Observer

  • May is National Water Safety Month and the start of prime pool season

    It’s the right time to brush up on how to childproof your pool, maintain a safe swimming environment and ward off tragic accidents. Pools are meant to be enjoyed, so take these steps to keep them safe and fun. To better understand the nature of pool safety, keep a few things in mind:

    • Sadly, the possibility of pool injuries and fatalities is very real. Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for young children aged one to four. In 2018, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, at least 148 children under 15 years old fatally drowned in swimming pools or spas. For every death, twice as many children are hospitalized for injuries. 4-6 minutes underwater is enough to cause irreversible brain damage.
    • Portable “toy” pools require security measures just like their permanent in-ground and above-ground counterparts. Portable pools account for 10% of drowning fatalities of children under 15.
    • There’s no single safety device or protective measure that will completely childproof your pool or spa, or prevent every possible accident. Incorporate several types of the safeguards listed here into your pool safety plan.
    • Devices and barricades aren’t a substitute for an adult with a watchful eye. Never allow a child near water unsupervised, even if they can swim.
    pool fence photo
    Photo by ::ErWin

    (more…)

  • Maitland police released terrifying video Thursday showing the moment a 3-year-old boy went underwater for more than two minutes.

    Officers said the boy nearly drowned, even though four swim instructors were nearby.

    One instructor, 34-year-old Jessica Kretz, is now facing charges.

    See WFTV

  • Yes, there is a “p” in the word pool. But that doesn’t mean there should be pee in the pool. A swimming pool is not a toilet. Toilets typically do not have other people swimming in it. If there is a person in your toilet, you may want to call a plumber or the police.

    Yet, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still felt compelled to tweet the following plea about pee:

    See Forbes

    https://youtu.be/f9FQ5TincTQ

  • Swim Like A. Fish interview the WORLD’S FASTEST swimmer. See what Bruno has to say about social media, being a successful role model, and why the swimming community is so important to him!

  • Broadcaster and journalist Naga Munchetty has begun adult swimming lessons with Everyone Active.