Imagine, Michael Trapp losing the engine power in his plane, survives the crash in the middle of Lake Huron – when what! Mr. Trapp survived hours in the water because he knew how to float on his back, paddle and treat water.
As the owner/instructor of a swimming company, swim swim swim I SAY, I ALWAYS explain that survival skills, such as floating on your back and treading water can save your life. Here is an example that no one can discount. So I ask all parents and swimmers to pay very close attention to what you/your child are learning when taking swimming lessons.
I will tell you from my experience, most adults and child don’t like at first the feeling of water in their ears when floating on their back. I talk to all my clients as we do a back float and explain, “You will get used to it and the way it feels. It will become like nothing.” I also get asked, “How can I get the water out?” Believe it or not, tilting your head to one side, lightly pulling on your ear and hopping up and down on one leg will do it. So you look silly for a moment but you will feel the water run right out. For more tips, please look at my blog on SWIMMER’S EAR found at, http://www.swimswimswimisay.com/ (bottom of the home page).
I prefer to teach treading water as my students begin to learn the freestyle stroke right after the back float. Treading water, at first, can be difficult; when you get the hang of it, you can make it a game for everyone. Seeing who can treat water the longest. If there are too many of your friends still hanging in, go for hands up in the air. That makes it very interesting.
For what happened to Mr. Trapp, both back floating and treading water saved his life besides his will to live. I ask all of you to please learn these survival skills Mr. Trapp did because we would not be writing a story such as this but a story on how he didn’t survive this accident. I want to wish Mr. Trapp a speeding recover. Also, thank him for his survival. You may say," that is strange." Mr. Trapp has no idea what an impact he has make on the lives of so many people. He will help many learn how to swim and learn the survival skills that saved his life. Mr. Trapp, you have just help decrease the second leading cause of accidental death among children and the number of minorities that LOSE THEIR LIVES TO DROWNING EVERY SINGLE DAY! I thank you.
“your life in the water matters”
Agnes Davis
President/CEO
