Daily Podcast #53

Source 🎧

5 essential water skills to know this summer - Life Kit

Sentences ✍️

1. I took lessons as a kid, but I somehow never got the hang of it.
   • get the hang of: To learn how to do something, especially when it is not simple at first.
   • New sentence: I finally got the hang of typing code.
2. Because again, we know about these stigmas that you’ve built up in your head as to why you shouldn’t, couldn’t, and won’t do what this is when it comes to learn to swim.
   • stigma: A strong feeling of disapproval that most people in a society have about something, often unfairly.
   • New sentence: Almost all criminals face stigma, and it’s hard to get rid of it.
3. The stroke is a lot easier once you get the rhythm down.
   • get the rhythm down: To understand and become comfortable with the pattern or timing of an activity.
   • New sentence: I’m gradually getting the rhythm down so I can complete tasks more quickly.
     
     

Summarization 👀

Many adults never learned to swim and feel embarrassed or ashamed, which can become a barrier to trying. Olympic swimmer Cullen Jones, who nearly drowned as a child, encourages adults to overcome that fear and learn. He emphasizes that swimming isn’t just a sport—it’s a life-saving skill, especially important since 11 people drown every day in the U.S. The American Red Cross says only 56% of Americans can perform basic survival swimming skills, despite 85% claiming they can swim. Adults learning to swim should find an instructor they connect with, and many local pools or programs, like those found at usaswimming.org/makeasplash, offer affordable or free lessons. Mental barriers, like shame or fear of looking silly, are common but shouldn’t stop people. Preparation—like packing your bag the night before—can make it easier to show up for lessons. Freestyle is usually the first stroke taught because it’s relatively easy to learn and breathe through. Learning to tread water and float, especially through techniques like sculling, is crucial for staying above water. The five essential water safety skills include safely submerging, floating or treading water for a minute, turning to find an exit, swimming 25 yards, and exiting the water without a ladder. Lastly, Jones urges people not to fear failure—learning to swim takes time and courage, but it’s worth it for safety, health, and peace of mind.