Jesse Markowitz on Nostr: I recall in college taking a PE course that was called survival swimming. I was told ...
I recall in college taking a PE course that was called survival swimming.
I was told it was a holdover from WW2 to address too many servicemen drowning. The final included a jump from the high dive (to simulate jumping off the sinking ship), followed by an underwater swim (to simulate getting away from the burning oil on the surface surrounding the ship), and then swimming a number of laps and treading water for what seemed a crazy long time (to simulate waiting for the lifeboat to pick you up). We also had to use our pants for a makeshift life preserver. I'm sure there was more, but that's all I recall at the moment.
I think they finally retired that course from the mandatory list...
I was told it was a holdover from WW2 to address too many servicemen drowning. The final included a jump from the high dive (to simulate jumping off the sinking ship), followed by an underwater swim (to simulate getting away from the burning oil on the surface surrounding the ship), and then swimming a number of laps and treading water for what seemed a crazy long time (to simulate waiting for the lifeboat to pick you up). We also had to use our pants for a makeshift life preserver. I'm sure there was more, but that's all I recall at the moment.
I think they finally retired that course from the mandatory list...