6 teens drown in Louisiana river; 7th rescued

[Divine Discontent]

Source: AP


6 teens drown in Louisiana river; 7th rescued
AP
SHREVEPORT, La. – Six teenagers from at least two families drowned in the Red River in northwest Louisiana after they stepped off a ledge from shallow water into a chasm about 20 feet deep on Monday, fire officials said. A 14-year-old was rescued.

Shreveport Assistant Fire Chief Fred Sanders said he believed the victims, ages 13 to 18, included three brothers in one family and a sister and two brothers in another.

"They were out here with some adults. But unfortunately, neither the children nor the adults could swim," he said.

Sanders said names may be released Tuesday, after the department is sure relatives have been notified.

The teens had started playing in a familiar area but ended up at a spot in the river where the bottom fell suddenly and that's where divers found the bodies, he said.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100803/ap_on_re_us/us_teens_drown_louisiana;_ylt=AoY3N2waKB3qZ3.Pa3piL49H2ocA;_ylu=X3oDMTNkM2JydWNtBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwODAzL3VzX3RlZW5zX2Ryb3duX2xvdWlzaWFuYQRjY29kZQNtb3N0cG9wdWxhcgRjcG9zAzEEcG9zAzEEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yaW

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UGH.. how sad.

This shouldn't have happened. No adults could swim, and didn't have life-jackets on the kids. Never should people with no ability to swim, get into an ocean, lake, or river. The pool, with 3 feet etc, is different, but it's so dangerous getting into something as unpredictable as a river. How sad for the remaining family. :(

[proteus_lives]

1. Oh God, how awful.

[Fumesucker]

2. There were at least nine people..

"Some adults" certainly implies more than one..

And not a single one of them could swim?

That's just strange to me, I can't think of anyone I know, including my grandkids, that can't swim.

My heart goes out to the families and friends, what a horrible loss.

[Ex Lurker]

3. it doesn't mention their ethnicity, but it's pretty common for African Americans in the south

not to be able to swim. For whatever reason, and there are a number of theories, but it seems to be a cultural thing.

[emilyg]

4. My news just said they were African American. So very sad.

[Divine Discontent]

5. yep. I just figured it was that because of the location, and the inability to swim. I have a few

black friends from over the years, and they say that's pretty common, sadly. What a sad tragedy - hopefully - this will make someone help foster in a new era of swimming courses for black youth.

[onpatrol98]

11. Inability to swim...

I was wondering if I should be offended by this presumption (as an African American woman)...unfortunately, one of the primary reasons I wanted to make certain all my children could swim was because it does seem to be rare in my family and friends network.

(hmm...sounds like an cell phone commercial)

It just seems to be true. In my area, the people more likely to be in boats on the local river or in lakes do not tend to be people of color. My husband has always been an avid fisherman, however. And, it seldom occurs to him that fishing is really fishing unless you're in a boat. So, I feel like my children were born swimming. But, even they've noticed it does not seem to be the norm.

I remember working at a youth camp years ago, and the difference was remarkable. Just about every young white child could swim, and just about every black child could not. Cultural differences...I just don't know.

Perhaps these families were less likely to have pools. I don't have a clue. Even with my parents...they can't swim and didn't bother to teach us to swim. There are seldom "true" community pools. In my small hometown in the 80s, the only community pool was owned by a small country club. Black people were not members of the local country club.

In the larger town I live in, there are a couple of community pools. One requires a nice fee to belong to...and is typically all white. The other is in a black neighborhood, and typically in need of something, so its not used very much any more.

The local university has a pool. But, there are very few open community hours. But, we use it quite a bit. Not everyone feels comfortable going to it, for some reason.

So, many children grow up without getting near the water. We live close to the Mississippi River and most of these kids have never seen it. I think every child should learn to swim. It's not unusual to hear of children who drown or nearly drown in hotel pools. For some, its their first time NEAR a real pool.

[theHandpuppet]

14. The statistics bear it out

Presuming those teens were African-American shouldn't offend you -- it's the fact that so many African Americans cannot swim that's appalling. The fact is, young African Americans (age 10-19) are three times more likely to drown than white kids in the same age group.

Here are some articles on the subject and on Olympic swimmer Cullen Jones, who is trying to change these tragic statistics:

http://www.thegrio.com/health/swim-or-die-the-battle-to-save-black-kids-from-drowning.php

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/08/02/1323504/effort-aims-to-bridge-swimming.html

http://olympic-swimming.suite101.com/article.cfm/cullen_jones_an_olympic_swimmer

http://www.drrobynsilverman.com/parenting-tips/is-drowning-and-issue-of-race-among-children-the-surprising-statistics/

[onpatrol98]

20. To be honest...

To be honest...I'm really not surprised at the statistics. Just among my friends and family, that's the trend. My children love to swim, though. I wanted them to swim so badly, but it was so scary for me.

My husband, "Mr. Red Cross Swimming Instructor", no problem. So, my boys are swimmers. One was even on a swim team. My youngest (4) is not swimming yet. Usually, our kids are swimming by this age.

My husband says its time. We just haven't been to the pool as much or been fishing as much since he's been born. Two are in college, another in high school...they don't need us anymore to get to the local pool.

The statistics are tragic and appalling. This seems like a problem that we can fix.

[Fumesucker]

16. It never even occurred to me and I'm sorry if I offended you..

I didn't realize that swimming skills were so racially/culturally divided, and I grew up in the deep South.

But I knew how to swim before I was ever in a pool, learned in a local lake and nearly drowned in the process. We certainly weren't well off enough to afford a pool, I was about ten and could swim like a fish before I started going to the community pool. There was a private swim club and a YMCA with an indoor pool in our area but we had a fairly nice and large true community pool as well, as I recall admission for kids was a dime.

[onpatrol98]

18. LOL - No offense taken

As I mentioned, I was wondering if I should be...but, you make a good point.

Although my parents don't swim, they both have brothers who learned by being "thrown" into ponds and basically not drowning. It may have influenced their decisions NOT to bother mentioning that they wanted to learn. But, the outcome was the same. They didn't swim. They didn't go to pools. They didn't take us as children. As a child, I can count on one hand the times I was near a pool (3 times). We went to the beach once. It just wasn't on their radar.

[Jefferson23]

34. Very interesting perspective, thank you for sharing. I was puzzled

by the number of people that were not swimmers.

Very sad and tragic story.

[EFerrari]

41. It is about color and income, and also, gender.

My brother was put through swimming lessons. I never had one. Maybe my family thought I'd marry well and my husband could swim for me. lol :)

It winds up being about access because I've never met a kid that didn't want to learn how to swim, even if they were a little afraid at the beginning.

[Dappleganger]

43. Children drown in hotel pools

in our state of FL every single year, unfortunately. Sometimes that is the only time they have ever seen a pool up close that was opened up to them.

We just recently had a tragic drowning in a pool last month of a two young preschoolers. The parents were out all night long and the kids got up the next morning, figured out a way to get into the neighbor's pool (they were away) and both drowned. And yes, they were African American children.

Kids are kids and they are going to be curious, but if they don't have the exposure to certain things which we take for granted on a regular basis than it just doesn't even cross our minds that NOT EVERYONE HAS THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AS YOU DO.

[Divine Discontent]

6. there was a couple who was on the beach with me a few months ago

and she was terrified of getting near the water. Yep, it's truly a cultural thing that has happened for whatever the reason, that has made a noticeably higher amount of AA's be afraid of swimming. The couple of AA pals I've had over the years didn't swim, either. I hope something good can come out of that horrible tragedy, and effective programs will put an end to so many of them not being able to even float. I mean, wow, the whole group couldn't swim!

[JI7]

13. is it really about being afraid to swim ? i thought it just had to do with money, access etc

the few pools that are available in mostly black areas are usually full of kids.

i don't really think it has to do with fear as much as access.

[Ex Lurker]

15. it's easy for a kid to learn to swim. A lot harder for an adult

if you were one of the ones without access to a pool as a kid, that's where the fear kicks in, I imagine.

OTOH, I was staying at a hotel recently where an African American church was holding a conference. Of the several hundred attendees, almost none of used the pool. This was a fairly swank hotel, and if you can afford to stay there, you aren't poor. Yet most of those folks didn't swim either. I don't know the answer.

[Blue_Tires]

22. +1

i'm a swimmer (since age 6), and some of the best swimmers I've ever seen in a pool were afro-caribbean

[Dappleganger]

19. It wouldn't surprise me if part of that fear is learned from their families, too.

My mom never learned and she certainly passed that fear down to my sister (neither of whom liked getting their hair wet).

Me, I was a fish and you couldn't keep me out of the ocean.

[superconnected]

26. Wow, I wasn't even guessing African. I was guessing Muslim where women have to keep covered or

some thing. I don't get it, why can't blacks swim? I'd think they'd be the best swimmers.

[Dappleganger]

33. oh geez!

Aside from the obvious false assumptions you made in your post, just think about who is populating the poorest schools in the US and there's your answer.

[superconnected]

35. I've read of ferrys sinking where the men survive but the arab women don't

because they can't swim. For all I knew it was tourists. I had no idea poverty meant lack of being able to swim until I read this thread. It's not exactly big on the news.

[superconnected]

25. I can't think of any one I know that can't swim either.

This definitely sounds ethnic. Most people start swimming in grade school required swim classes.

Horrible accident. I can't imagine. Poor families!

[slackmaster]

40. I know one person. He's white and in his early 50s.

He just never learned for some reason.

[mitchum]

44. I taught my dad how to swim when he was 40 and I was 20...

(I've been swimming since the age of 6) and the reason was that my parents finally had a pool installed.
I have always suspected that until then, he was mortified by the idea of a grown man being taught how to swim in a public pool.

[earcandle]

7. oh.. people don't have enough information ... good safety principles anymore.

How can we help? 

[Divine Discontent]

8. sadly for the family involved, this certainly will get people talking, as it should.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

9. If Obama ever institutes a WPA program to

create jobs, how bout building community swimming pools where kids can play safely, learn to swim
and stay out of trouble. With Climate change getting worse these pools will be greatly appreciated.

[JI7]

12. i think this might have been ok if they knew how to swim, but i agree about learning to swim

i think we should do something so more kids have a chance to learn, especially in communities where it's not that common.

[maxsolomon]

45. most community swimming pools are barely afloat

due to budget issues. no one's building any community pools anytime soon.

[onpatrol98]

47. True

I know of one, possibly two right now in my area or close locally that are closed for lack of money to buy chlorine or some other maintenance issue. And, guess what...a pool is lower on the economic food chain in some areas. In some others, a pool would be considered a lot higher. That may actually be cultural, also.

[Rhiannon12866]

10. What a tragic story!

;(

[Dappleganger]

17. Too sad. Unfortunately, two of my friends drowned when I was in college.

One waded/swam across a river to an island to get flowers for his girlfriend and never returned. His best buddy went in after him and drowned as well. I will never forget that memorial...it was the saddest thing I'd ever seen in my life.

BTW, they were white if that makes any difference (to blow the "who can swim" theory). Also, my mom never learned how to swim. She was very poor and grew up in the Mississippi Delta area and there was just no place for her to learn. She was always afraid of water and getting her hair wet, too.

[onpatrol98]

21. Very sad...

I'm in the Mississippi Delta. I think a lot of it is still safe access to swimming areas and willing teachers. Especially, when parents don't swim themselves. I know one of the local universities offers swimming lessons to children of all ages and adults at pretty reasonable prices. But, if you come from a non swimming family, it simply may not be encouraged.

[slackmaster]

23. All children should get basic swimming lessons in public schools

:argh:

[superconnected]

27. They do in my state. I did. My nieces and nephews do.

I had no idea that every state doesn't have required swimming by 3rd grade.

I'm in WA state.

[Roon]

29. They had required swimming when I was in 6th grade

They would bus us across the street to the high school where the pool was. I love to swim. My father taught me how to swim when I was 7. Whenever I go to the lake or ocean, I spend most of my time in the water.

[Dappleganger]

32. And where would they swim?

Most schools have no access to a pool. Not only that, they have little time for PE let alone swimming lessons.

[slackmaster]

37. Don't bother me with your lame "Yeah, but" excuses.

If there is absolutely no place where a particular school could hold lessons, there probably isn't any place where kids are likely to drown nearby either.

Not only that, they have little time for PE let alone swimming lessons.

Swimming is a basic survival skill. It's more important than anything else taught in PE.

[Dappleganger]

42. Perhaps you should spend some time in some poor areas

where they have no funding for that type of thing, and kids are just trying to survive their situation and swimming just doesn't have a very high priority.

Sometimes I have to look at the name of this forum several times a day to remind myself that this is supposed to be a forum of liberals and progressives.

:eyes:

[slackmaster]

46. They have their priorities fucked up

:nuke:

[onpatrol98]

48. True

In my hometown THE ONLY POOL IS AT A PRIVATE CLUB. The poverty rate is enormous. Under no circumstances do black children go to the pool. It's membership ONLY. Have there still been drownings or near drownings? Yes, when the kids leave and get access to hotel pools or visit families in other areas that have access to pools.

The closest "open access" pool to my hometown is about 25 minutes away...unless the community college has one. It would be about 10 minutes away.

There's a dirty river (closed to fishing due to pesticides) about 5 minutes away.

[Fastcars]

24. I Live About A Quarter Mile From The Red

The Red River here in Shreveport has always been a very dangerous river. Very murky with a fairly strong current that has very strong undertows and whirlpools. Even areas of the river you are familiar with can change overnight. The "beach" where the kids drowned is an area the authorities have tried to block access to in the past.

[Bonobo]

28. I wwanted to repost this important article. All should read!

http://boingboing.net/2010/07/20/drowning-doesnt-look.html

"Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning"

[Lance_Boyle]

30. I thought 'doggy paddling' was a pretty innate instinct.

At least the ability to keep one's head above water should not be so problematic. I guess it's panic more than anything that prevents people who are not comfortable in water from being able to do this.

[superconnected]

31. Someone who cannot swim is not going to be calm enough to float and dog paddle.

They'll be sinking.

I thought the article was tragic but after reading the thread and finding out the majority of Blacks can't swim, I find that the biggest tragedy. Everyone I know can swim, but then everyone I know is white so I've taken that for granted. This is heart breaking.

[slackmaster]

39. Just a few generations ago, it was very common for women not to know how to swim

Many people considered it to be "un-ladylike".

One of my grandmothers never learned to swim, but she was the first woman in her family to earn a college degree. The other was a good swimmer (and also a college graduate). Neither of them ever rode a bicycle.

[CatsDogsBabies]

36. I don't think so

My 4 year old has been taking swimming lessons since January at the Y. She is getting better at moving herself forward in the water and is starting to hold her body flat, but she still sinks if you let her go in water that she is not tall enough to stand up in. She loves to swim/play in the water so she will continue with lessons. I don't think staying above water is an innate ability. I took lessons at the local municipal pool for years when I was young.

[slackmaster]

38. Sort of - People who don't know how to swim do a move known as "climbing the ladder"

They're trying to dog-paddle straight up, in a futile attempt to get out of the water.

I've had some lifeguard training, and actually rescued a man from rough surf once. In that case he was so tired he couldn't struggle. He couldn't even stand up for several minutes after I dragged him up on the beach.