I think it is a universal idea in our culture to contemplate how we can live longer. Many people I have met have questioned the passion I have for aquatics, but at the same time, they have never asked me why it is such an asset.
Swimming has many unique benefits that other sports do not have for a wide age range of individuals. It is considered to be one of the most critical life skills to have. Particularly in British Columbia, drowning still occurs because many individuals do not maintain their skills or never learned at all. It is also considered to be the third leading cause of unintentional death in Canadians younger than 60, with approximately 500 deaths in Canada per year. The challenge is that this is continuing to rise because people overestimate their abilities in and around water.
It is critical to remember that swimming is a life skill. Young adults may find it embarrassing or frightening to learn to swim, but the success in doing so, even though it requires patience, can make an impact on your life story. Swimming will build confidence and it is excellent exercise.
While learning to swim is more common for people born in Canada, many young adults often overestimate their abilities and stop learning and practicing. As a swim instructor, I have witnessed the decrease in learners after the age of 15 and heard many stories of individuals that regretted never learning or giving up the skill. Often, we get our children to learn because it is a transitional skill in childhood and because it is a popular activity, which gets forgotten as they get older and busier.
Not only does swimming help change your mindset around the water, but it can also have physical and mental benefits, toning your muscles and delivering significant cardiac benefits while not adding any pressure on your joints. That makes this form of exercise beneficial to anyone. The CDC report on health benefits of swimming shows that swimming is beneficial for those with arthritis, mental health issues, diabetes, and heart disease. Swimming is easier on your muscles and joints than land-based cardio exercise, so you are able to exercise longer.
I would encourage everyone to learn or practice their skills in the water because it can save your own or someone else’s life. Swimming helps build confidence, and learning to swim can improve your self-esteem. Another challenge is that when people overestimate their abilities, they forget to teach their children safety around water, only focusing on swimming to have fun. So kids and young adults develop a love for the water, but when something dangerous happens, they don’t have the skills to help. Yes, loving the water is excellent, but it is very different from respecting it.
Safety around water includes learning self-rescues, how to rescue another drowning swimmer, and the danger of different aquatic environments. As someone who works in the aquatic industry, I highly recommend the LifeSaving Society’s “Swim to Survive” program. Whether you take classes at a local pool, look for a private instructor like myself, or ask a friend to teach you, it’s recommended that you have three tools in your tool kit: the skills to roll over in deep water (float), tread water for one minute, and swim 50 meters. How many people, if truly put to the test, could say they could do that?
So while learning or practicing swimming might not be “cool,” its benefits could help you and others live longer, and who doesn’t want that?
