It’s not that uncommon for people to forget how to swim. I know this from personal experience, and also because it was revealed in a recent study by the National Safety Council. The study showed that around 17% of adults have forgotten at least some parts of their swimming lessons. If you’re one of those people, then it might be time for you to refresh your skills! In this blog post, we will go over what happens when you don’t know how to swim and cover some tips on preventing drowning accidents.
You don’t swim often enough
Swimming is an activity that you need to practice for it stay fresh in your mind. By having not enough practice, you may not develop muscle memory, which can make it difficult to swim in the event of an emergency, and theoretically, you forgot how to swim. You may also develop poor technique, leading you into drowning situations or injury from struggling against water currents when swimming is a normal part on your routine.
You’re not practicing the right way
The most important part of swimming is mastering breathing & floating. If you’re not frequently attending your lessons or practicing, then it’s possible that the techniques for breathing & saving air are being forgotten and can even be difficult to remember in an emergency situation!
Remember, swimming & breathing (under water) is a skill, not an instinct. Forget about all the articles about infants having the instincts to swim. Researches show that infants have the reflexes to move themselves through water & the reflexes to position their heads & noses above the water.
PTSD or stress
Another possible reason for forgetting how to swim is PTSD or stress. If you are suffering from anxiety, then it’s likely that the skill of swimming may be forgotten as well because using water can cause this kind of trauma and make matters worse! Living with a traumatic experience in your life will impact on all aspects including muscle memory which could lead some people forget about their skills.
This has lead many adults who have suffered with PTSD their whole lives still unable go near any body-of -water without feeling disoriented & panicky which makes them want jump right back onto the shore.
Fear of water
The negative feelings associated from feeling trapped underwater without any way out usually makes us want climb up onto dry land right away… The problem then becomes one about overcoming this kind experience & accepting our own fears consciously instead letting old subconscious memories help dictate what we do every time something triggers those emotions again.
Risk of drowning
There is always inherent risk of drowning when you can’t measure how far your ability to swim. If this sounds like a possibility for yourself, then it’s possible that swimming lessons may be what are needed in order combat fear and nothing more than taking baby steps into water will do! It would seem obvious but some people try other methods before they reach out about help because there was so much shame attached or feelings on failure as if not being able say “I’m ok” all at once had been too hard from day one…
So what should you do when you forget how to swim?
It is always important to seek help from an swimming instructors. Take baby steps and start with something as simple like walking in the pool up-to your waist before jumping into full swimming lessons! It may seem easy but just remember: even if everything else was perfect at one point this does not mean that all will be again once we learn how swim so take things slowly when deciding what’s best for yourself.
Final words
For many people, it may seem an stupid idea one can lose the ability to swim. But forgetting how to swim is real as it can be, and it’s always a risk. When you overestimate your ability to swim, you will face risks. Remember, there’s no shame asking for help, even you’re an adult.