The 305, located on the famous peninsula of Florida, is surrounded by water, making swimming an essential skill in Miami.
People of different ages are participating in various activities in the Miami waters. These activities include boating, fishing, rafting, jet skiing and swimming. While these water activities are exciting, they can also put people at risk.
Nice, calm winds will allow one’s beach day, whether it is swimming by land or on a boat, to be safe and relaxing. However, as the weather changes unpredictably in Miami, rough winds and waters can make it difficult to get out of the water and increase the risk of not being able to swim back to shore. This is where the importance of swimming skills in Miami becomes a priority, ensuring people are prepared and can enjoy their beach day without putting themselves at risk.
“As swimming can be a social thing, so many people have pools as well as being surrounded by the ocean, so it becomes a huge safety concern toward young kids and adults,” Miami Palmetto Senior High senior Hillah Amozeg said.
Amozeg reiterated that everyone should know how to swim in Miami, and there are many programs and places available to make it possible for people to learn.
“I’m a swimming instructor for young kids, and what I have learned is that it is important to make sure that kids are comfortable in water because of the wide prevalence of private pools here in Miami,” Amozeg said.
The situation of a child not being able to swim is one that Amozeg has experienced. However, it is not because the children do not want to learn; it is because these children are not familiar with swimming and cannot really swim at their age. This highlights the urgency of introducing younger children to swimming to ensure their safety in Miami’s nearby waters.
“I used to be a lifeguard at LifeTime at The Falls, and I have observed that the way that people play in the water is actually very dangerous for the most part,” Amozeg said.
While children, for the most part, are still learning their swimming skills, young adults and adults are disregarding their skills and creating a dangerous environment for swimming. Junior and swim team captain Isabella Bartoli also takes notice of these swimming struggles.
“Lifeguards say they can easily tell when someone isn’t comfortable in the water due to their flailing arms attempting to stay afloat and how they constantly stay on the wall,” Bartoli said.
Bartoli explains that lifeguards are also required to be able to swim long distances and to swim while holding weights.
“Since I coach younger children and I witness how careless kids can be around water, knowing how to swim well should be more focused on, and adults should be strong swimmers in case of emergency with a child who isn’t as strong,” Bartoli said.
At the end of the day, the amount of water is continuously increasing in Miami. With these challenging waters, it is pivotal to make sure children and adults have the swimming skills that allow them to enjoy these waters safely.
