I love the name of this cap- "Faultless". If only swimming was such an easy sport that wearing the right cap would make one "Faultless". Growing up we wore caps to keep the water out of our ears, and they were stinky rigid rubber that left a mark on your forehead and smelled like an old tire left in the sun. By the time I was 10 I refused to wear it, and I started a mini revolt at our pool, by the last week in June somehow the rule got changed and caps were dropped. All those screaming children most likely gave the poor pool guards a headache.It was a dumb rule, we had been told that the Hair gunked up the filters. ( What a bunch of huey).
Watching the Olympics they told the story of one of the Relay Swimmers. His name is Cullen Jones and he works hard all year supporting and advocating programs that teach black and urban youth how to swim. The risks of urban children are 2 :1 compared to caucasian children. I do know that another aspect of this that many inner city pools and beaches have cut hours of Guard duty and lessons. So I am encouraging if you live in an inner city or near a pool and you are a good swimmer be aware of that number, but also maybe offer your volunteer skills.
( I read a little about Jones and the Relay Team over on Bruce Blog which also has a really nice summary of the Win last night, as well as Olympic Coverage and DEM coverage....excellent blog...the Relay story is 4th post down).
I was a lifeguard for many years while putting myself through nursing school. I taught lessons, and it was always amazing to me that there are some basic skills that even adults lack. For example how to Tread Water , so I have linked video to the title showing this basic lifesaving skill. When my son was small I also always used to take extra flotation devices with us, for is someone is tired you can always offer one of these floats, buying them time to get to shore or safety.
I also learned as a Guard, never ever let kids hold "HOLDING THE BREATH" contests and "NO DUNKING". When one is forced unawares under water it is too easy to aspirate water or lose one's breath. Also people think to hold one's breath and go under water is "Tough" or "Brave", no it is just plain stupid and dangerous. Some of my worst rescues were due to that game.
So there is your Water Wisdom for the day....Want some more Wisdom and Humor and Insights...Terrific Blogs on the Round Up Below.... tonight I will be back with the "Faultless Ladies " Round Up .....
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Read More on Cullen Jones and what he does for kids....Diva is right he is amazing...and inspiring...
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Open Thread below about Life, Olympics, and Breaking News . Email me if you want to be on the blogroll or have
a blog to suggest, also let me know if the videos are giving you trouble. ...enigma4ever AT earthlink DOT net
15 comments:
Cullen Jones told his story - he drowned as a child! Only to grow up to win Olympic Gold last night. But his real story is what he does with kids all year - he's amazing.
Hey, I like your blog, too. I'll put you on my blogroll. Come back and look at my new post about the election. Hope it makes you laugh.
So I stop by the big Wegmans in Penfield on my way home this afternoon for terribly exciting items like Bran cereal, blue berries, apples and soy milk and what I encounter?
They're busily putting out the Halloween candy.
I said to the woman who looked to be in-charge: "Halloween candy? It's August 11th. Halloween's not for 2 1/2 more months. It's summer."
She said: "Sir, you're at least the 110th person to tell me this."
Maybe the Christmas stuff will go out the day after Labor Day -- just skip over Thanksgiving completely.
Thanks for the link, Enigma.
That is a wonderful story about Cullen Jones and him giving back to the community. Those little bios are what make the olympics fun to watch.
Dean::
hey there , it is the little stories that do make the Olympics matter....( not the Interviews with King Bumblehead)....I heard the story about the drowning- but I came in and only heard part of it- and I didn't want to misquote the facts- I will correct tonight....
Christopher:::
well, gee maybe I will go grab some Halloween candy to eat ;-) Seriously won't be stale by then? gee....
Bruce::
I will be back...yup...saw that you were updating it- seriously your account of the Relay was one of the best I read ....better than any paper...
Diva:::
I only heard half the story last night- but that he takes the time to teach kids and promote that they get lessons- I really value that....amazing...
breaking news coming on quick..bush is going to announce something as Russia has been blowing up parts of the pipe line apparently..dumb asses..well, on all sides for that one..Georgia for aggravating what they thought they could get away with and the US for meddling in someone's backyard.. what's good for the goose is good for the gander..American exceptionalism be damned..alrightie, hope you get this in time to check it out..
Ingrid
Ingrid::
well, Bush just came out and gave a little pissed off presser in the Rose Garden- No Comments or questions taken...really short snippy little statement....it was really vague though...I don;t understand what is going on....I thought that Sarkosy was there in Georgia trying to negogiate a Ceasefire.....
I am confused....I will try to go read some more....
the thing that bothers me...I am confused is this Putin staging a show of power...what is the Purpose of doing this to Georgia....Now if there are pipelines at stake that is critical...if you get more please do share it with us..and your perspective Ingrid...
Tim Kaine's name is out!
Woo Hoo! His opus dei-informed, radical Catholicism is out of touch with 99.5% of Democrats.
Looks like we're down to Biden and Sibelius.
Chris::
oh that is good news....I don;t think Sibelius is on the list though? is it ?
cullen jones is an amazing guy -- and i so glad he won.....
Dcap...
me2...me2..it was very exciting...
Hey, remember the bathing caps with the plastic flowers on them?? Um, I never had one, btw...
Dick...
yes , I do and the chin strap- oye....I did not have the flowers...but my sis..yup...and my grandmom...( the caps now are so cool.. like space gear..and suits like superhero's...)
In the 50`s as mere infant males, the main concerns were not over rubber headgear, the hairstyle of that era was the clean-cut-crew-cut...Oh no, the biggest threat to the psyche was that moment of the hand-knitted woolen bathing trunks...
We rarely saw swimming pools, for us it was always the ocean, more than once or twice would some poor child see his or her swimming trunks be taken away by the currents and waves.
Swimsuits have changed a bit since then, but the meories of innocent childhoods and swimming lessons must be common across all societies.
Lanskr::
I think the memories of water are common...and mostly happy...now the wet knitted bathing trunks oh dear...I can not imagine how uncomfortable that must have been-..oh wait- add in the WET Sand !!!oye....maybe the waves took the trunks away knowing the child was miserable...unhappy....I too went to the ocean as a child- it was a once a year pilgrammage...and as a mom I was determined to live somewhere where water was nearby for my son- actually he has had both....most of his life....pools and beach...
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