In my almost 50 years of swimming experience from long distance swimming to life-guard I can testify that swimming can be very dangerous if the swimmer exceeds limits of ability or boundary.
The safest place to swim is a swimming pool. But that too can be dangerous if you do not know how to swim much and get yourself in the deep end of the pool. Those who get into the biggest trouble in the swimming pool are children. One child can push another kid into the deep end of the pool for fun (during party gatherings for instance) and it just takes a minute and that is the end of it. Children drowning in swimming pools is a common occurrence all over the world. At-home outdoor swimming pools should preferably be fenced and locked if small children are part of the family.
All swimmers of any ability take great risks in swimming in open waters like the sea and rivers. Water currents can be one danger. The other is the livestock in the water from crocodiles, alligators, sharks and sea snakes and also jelly fish. You can find the equivalent of an African jungle in ocean waters. Swimmers sometimes, especially teenage boys and girls get carried away (showing off) when in crowds and fall into deeper waters unknowingly and could find it difficult to swim to shore. In swimming too, the mean can be very mean exposing a swimmer to drowning. I would advise anyone not to cross a river that is on average three feet deep. Lurking in shallow waters and calm waters are hollows, holes and underground currents that pull a swimmer down. In this situation a swimmer must always expect the unexpected. In as much as you may not walk into an unknown town, you should also not swim freely in unknown waters. Unless participating in organized events where there is plenty of support and boats around (to pick up swimmers) it is best not to venture into unknown waters. Usually the good swimmer is the least to get into trouble as he or she has already considerable experience. It is the person who knows a little bit of swimming and with overconfidence coupled with muscular strength tries to challenge the waters of nature. Here too children can get into trouble by unknowingly being adventurous.
I hope you the reader is now convinced that swimming can be very dangerous. While adults must exercise great caution in behaving sensibly, the same adults should also supervise and provide safe facilities to ensure that children do not unnecessarily drown in swimming pools or open waters.
May you enjoy a wonderful sport (swimming). If you exercise caution, you can swim all your life.
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