This boating incident with the NFL players raises the question of when would it be appropriate to leave a capsized boat (violating a prime safety rule) and attempt to swim to shore? I'm sure many of the people on this forum would do just fine only a mile from shore in reasonable seas, and I'm also sure some would feel safe going for it at even longer distances. I'm curious, what's your threshold?
During one pregnancy I had a conversation with my husband about what would happen if our car went into the SF Bay and the kids were in their car seats! Cheery huh? (hormones were a raging). I thought if I could get them out of their car seats I could float and hold them, but I was scared I couldn't and they would drown. (Luckily, for me now, 3 out of 4 can swim!)
My hubby, Mr. Navy (ret. Lt. JG), told me that if I were ever in that position that I could use my shirt as a floating device. Just fill it up with air and it would assist me.
Don't care to ever try it but it brought me peace fo mind. : ]
To answer the question: circumstances I guess. Sharks bad, cold water bad, dehydration bad, but I'd bet I could swim (with rest of course) as far as I needed to if the other things weren't huge factors. Of course if there's a boat to hold on to... duh.
During one pregnancy I had a conversation with my husband about what would happen if our car went into the SF Bay and the kids were in their car seats! Cheery huh? (hormones were a raging). I thought if I could get them out of their car seats I could float and hold them, but I was scared I couldn't and they would drown. (Luckily, for me now, 3 out of 4 can swim!)
My hubby, Mr. Navy (ret. Lt. JG), told me that if I were ever in that position that I could use my shirt as a floating device. Just fill it up with air and it would assist me.
Don't care to ever try it but it brought me peace fo mind. : ]
To answer the question: circumstances I guess. Sharks bad, cold water bad, dehydration bad, but I'd bet I could swim (with rest of course) as far as I needed to if the other things weren't huge factors. Of course if there's a boat to hold on to... duh.
