Life Kit Episode Summary: "5 Essential Water Skills to Know This Summer"

Release Date: May 26, 2025
Host: Marielle Segarra
Guest: Colin Jones, Olympic Swimmer and Water Safety Advocate

Introduction: The Importance of Water Skills

In this episode of NPR's Life Kit, host Marielle Segarra delves into a crucial yet often overlooked life skill: swimming. Recognizing that many adults reach adulthood without mastering basic water skills, Marielle shares her personal struggles with swimming and underscores the societal need to reassess how we approach water safety.

Marielle Segarra opens the discussion by reflecting on her own challenges:

"I took lessons as a kid, but I somehow never got the hang of it. Always felt like water was going up my nose and that I was moving through quicksand. And now if I try to swim, I feel like I get nowhere." (00:18)

Overcoming Shame and Fear in Learning to Swim

Marielle touches on the emotional barriers many face when learning to swim, particularly the shame and fear of inadequacy. She emphasizes how these feelings can prevent individuals from even attempting to acquire this essential skill.

Colin Jones, a guest on the show, echoes these sentiments and provides a transformative perspective:

"Once you start to build that thought process that you're not good at something, it tends to become real." (01:11)

Colin shares his personal journey, nearly drowning at five years old, and how he overcame this early trauma to become an Olympic swimmer and a trailblazer as the first African American to hold a swimming world title.

Colin Jones’s Swimming Journey and Insights

Colin Jones's narrative is both inspiring and educational. He highlights the importance of perseverance and the right instructional support in mastering swimming. He advises adults hesitant to learn due to past failures or fear of judgment to seek out the right instructors who can make the learning process enjoyable and effective.

"We really need to change this thought of swimming just a great sport, which it is. It's also a life skill." (05:28)

Key Survival Swimming Skills

The conversation shifts to the essential survival swimming skills recommended by the American Red Cross. Marielle and Colin discuss each skill in detail, explaining their importance and practical application.

1. Submerging Safely Underwater

   • Marielle introduces the skill:

     "The first one is to be able to fully submerge yourself underwater." (10:45)

   • Colin warns about the dangers of jumping into unknown waters:

     "Jumping into the water is a big issue, especially when you're looking at open water... Make sure that you understand the depth of the water that you're actually jumping into." (11:00)

2. Floating or Treading Water for One Minute

   • Colin dispels the myth that muscular individuals can float effortlessly:

     "Muscle does not float. So if you are someone that is fit, has muscle, don't expect to float. You're going to tend to go down." (11:37)

   • He emphasizes the importance of learning techniques like sculling and proper breathing to conserve energy while treading water.

3. Turning Around and Finding an Exit

   • Marielle questions how to perform this skill:

     "How do you know if you've been learning to swim in a pool?" (14:25)

   • Colin advises practitioners to understand pool layouts and practice navigation to exits:

     "It's just as important as getting into the water, is to understand how to get out of the water." (12:54)

4. Swimming 25 Yards to an Exit

   • Marielle seeks clarification on the distance:

     "How far is 25 yards, by the way, for those of us who can't picture a yard." (13:27)

   • Colin explains that standard pools are typically 25 yards long, making this a practical benchmark.

5. Exiting the Water Without a Ladder

   • Marielle brings up the challenge of leaving the pool without assistance:

     "And then you also need to be able to exit from the water without a ladder." (13:53)

   • Colin introduces the "elbow, elbow, tummy, knee, knee" method as an effective technique:

     "You're putting both of your elbows up on the surface... and then you're trying to bring your knee up." (14:04)

Starting as an Adult: Practical Tips

Addressing adults eager to learn, Colin offers actionable advice on initiating swim lessons:

• Research Local Pools and Instructors: Utilize resources like USA Swimming’s pool finder to locate nearby facilities offering lessons.

• Prepare the Night Before: Colin suggests reducing barriers by packing swim gear ahead of time:

  "Pack your bag the night before, have no excuses as to why you're going." (08:02)

• Essential Gear: Bring items like goggles, a swim cap, or a nose clip to enhance comfort and performance in the water.

Addressing Common Concerns

Marielle raises a common concern about pool hygiene, such as the presence of bodily fluids and sweat, which can deter individuals from wanting to swim.

Colin reassures listeners about pool cleanliness:

"Pools are shocked with chlorine. They are sterilized. They're constantly testing it to make sure that it's safe for people to be in there." (09:23)

He acknowledges that while occasional lapses occur, overall pool water quality is maintained to ensure swimmer safety.

Preparation for Open Water Swimming

Transitioning from pool to open water requires additional skills and confidence. Colin outlines the necessary steps to prepare:

• Comfort in Pool Waters: Being able to swim multiple laps and tread water comfortably indicates readiness for open water.

• Understanding Currents: In natural bodies of water, swimmers should avoid fighting currents and instead swim with them to conserve energy and reach safety.

"You want to make sure that you're preparing for every circumstance." (15:58)

Mental Barriers and Motivation

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to overcoming mental obstacles. Colin emphasizes that fear of failure and societal judgments are major hindrances to learning to swim.

"We can't be afraid to fail. Fail graciously. Understand that you're not going to get it the very first time." (17:58)

Marielle and Colin discuss strategies to stay motivated, such as focusing on personal progress rather than external perceptions.

"Stay focused on your journey... there is light at the end of the tunnel, and you will get better at it the more you work at it." (18:42)

Conclusion: Taking the Leap

As the episode wraps up, Marielle feels inspired to take swim lessons, encouraged by Colin’s passionate advocacy. The hosts recap the five essential water skills and provide resources for listeners eager to improve their swimming abilities.

Key Takeaways:

• American Red Cross's Five Survival Swimming Skills: Submerge safely, tread water, find and swim to exits, swim 25 yards, and exit without assistance.
• Practical Steps: Locate local swim classes, prepare in advance, and equip yourself with necessary gear.
• Mental Fortitude: Embrace the learning process, overcome shame, and persist despite initial failures.

For more information and resources on swimming and other life skills, listeners are encouraged to visit NPR’s Life Kit website and explore additional episodes tailored to personal development and well-being.

Produced by Margaret Serino, with contributions from Beck Harlan, Malika Grebe, Meghan Keane, Beth Donovan, Andy Tagle, Claire Marie Schneider, Sylvie Douglas, Sam Yellow Horse Kessler, and engineering by Zoe Vangenhoven.