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Pools exist. Feel like it’s more common for Europeans to go to a local pool to swim than it is for Americans
by notfromhere 3y ago
Pools exist. Feel like it’s more common for Europeans to go to a local pool to swim than it is for Americans
- throwaway173738 3y agoI never learned to swim as a child because I almost drowned during a lesson. Most of the people in the swim class I took as an adult had similar experiences. I think that’s it’s less about access and more about fear of the water.
- DiggyJohnson 3y agoThat seems like... a very good reason to learn how to swim, not a reason to quit. I'm making light of what sounds like a pretty serious situation, I guess, but that is my genuine reaction to your comment.
- kevincox 3y agoI think it is very different. In Canada it is very common to go camping or be invited to someone's cottage and you may end up in a dock or boat. Places where you may not be planning on swimming but fall it by accident (or in the case of a boat due to an accident). For this reason children are generally taught to swim as a safety measure. Drowning incidents are fairly common in Canada so it is good to help reduce them. If most of your swimming is in pools (especially public pools) it is far safer (shallow end, more people around, limited depth, no trauma from a boating accident) so it is less necessary to learn from a safety point of view. Obviously many people will still learn for fun but it generally isn't pushed as much in school or other community services.