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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38533071/ns/us_news-life/
While this is very sad, I am utterly baffled by the sheer STUPIDITY of it all.
A large group of people is gathered for a family barbecue or something along the bank of a river. A bunch of the kids go wading into said river...and NONE of them know how to swim. The kids are walking along and suddenly fall into a deep unseen sinkhole, where six of them then drown, because NO ONE else at the gathering, including all of the adults, knew how to swim!
I find this mind-boggling. From the time I was little, I was taught to be incredibly careful and respectful of any body of water, especially one with a current. Whenever we went out on our boat, we were in life vests if we didn't know how to swim, and often even if we did, just because we were little and probably couldn't keep up treading water for very long. If we went swimming or playing at a pool or beach, we could swim and/or were under the strict supervision of an adult who could. Otherwise, we weren't allowed in or near the water, simple as that. This, to me, is just common sense.
So how in the world does something like this happen, where an entire family of non-swimmers not only chooses a RIVER for their family get-together, but then allows the kids, even if they're teenagers, to play in the water with no means of helping them should an emergency arise? Those poor parents had to just stand their and watch their children drown because they had no way to rescue them! So many of them drowned because they were each trying to save the other, which of course didn't work since none of them could swim. So...why were they allowed in the water in the first place?? I JUST DON'T GET IT.
Just because you're walking along the shore doesn't mean something bad can't happen, like, I don't know, you get hit in the head by a baseball and are knocked out into the water and swept away. Or in this case, you step off a ledge you couldn't see through the murky water and fall into a deep pit. ALWAYS respect water, people! If you're going to be around water, no matter how shallow or safe you think it is, for the love of cheese and crackers, at least learn how to tread water, float, and dog paddle first! Then at least you'll probably be able to stay above water long enough for someone to rescue you.
ETA: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38559284/ns/us_news-life/
While this is very sad, I am utterly baffled by the sheer STUPIDITY of it all.
A large group of people is gathered for a family barbecue or something along the bank of a river. A bunch of the kids go wading into said river...and NONE of them know how to swim. The kids are walking along and suddenly fall into a deep unseen sinkhole, where six of them then drown, because NO ONE else at the gathering, including all of the adults, knew how to swim!
I find this mind-boggling. From the time I was little, I was taught to be incredibly careful and respectful of any body of water, especially one with a current. Whenever we went out on our boat, we were in life vests if we didn't know how to swim, and often even if we did, just because we were little and probably couldn't keep up treading water for very long. If we went swimming or playing at a pool or beach, we could swim and/or were under the strict supervision of an adult who could. Otherwise, we weren't allowed in or near the water, simple as that. This, to me, is just common sense.
So how in the world does something like this happen, where an entire family of non-swimmers not only chooses a RIVER for their family get-together, but then allows the kids, even if they're teenagers, to play in the water with no means of helping them should an emergency arise? Those poor parents had to just stand their and watch their children drown because they had no way to rescue them! So many of them drowned because they were each trying to save the other, which of course didn't work since none of them could swim. So...why were they allowed in the water in the first place?? I JUST DON'T GET IT.
Just because you're walking along the shore doesn't mean something bad can't happen, like, I don't know, you get hit in the head by a baseball and are knocked out into the water and swept away. Or in this case, you step off a ledge you couldn't see through the murky water and fall into a deep pit. ALWAYS respect water, people! If you're going to be around water, no matter how shallow or safe you think it is, for the love of cheese and crackers, at least learn how to tread water, float, and dog paddle first! Then at least you'll probably be able to stay above water long enough for someone to rescue you.
ETA: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38559284/ns/us_news-life/
