tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post3001822187171822074..comments2023-10-22T18:25:39.688+08:00Comments on The View from Taiwan: DrowningMichael Turtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-46766796889295483992007-07-05T06:16:00.000+08:002007-07-05T06:16:00.000+08:00When I was in college one of my classmates drown w...When I was in college one of my classmates drown when we had a BBQ party on a sea shore. The sea shore was about 30 min drive from our college and therefore a commonly visited place to us. Not to mention that he was an expert diver (and school socker team player). We couldn't understand how could he be possibly drown at that site, until his body was found 2 days after missing. <BR/><BR/>He was sucked into a hole under the riff where strong current kept going in and flowing out from the other side. The hole was too small for his body to go through, and the current was too strong for him to swim back out. The site of the hole was less than 5 meters from the shore. If we knew he was there, we could have just reached out and pulled him back.<BR/><BR/>There was no safty warning sign. When we were searching for him, there were coupld of other teenager groups partying there. (Yes, at the same time we were looking for the body). Some kids just went close to the riff back and forth chasing the tides. I had an urge to grab them and slap them on the face.Runsunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00943096071902196841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-51758632789706223102007-07-05T02:29:00.000+08:002007-07-05T02:29:00.000+08:00Taiwanese didn't seem to have such high drowning d...Taiwanese didn't seem to have such high drowning death toll when KMT was the boss. Obviously, it's all ah-bian's fault.Runsunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00943096071902196841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-35754227807737468262007-06-29T04:55:00.000+08:002007-06-29T04:55:00.000+08:00Michael,Sorry to hear about your two students. I ...Michael,<BR/><BR/>Sorry to hear about your two students. I know if I'd been in your shoes, I'd have taken it pretty rough.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-89624404559787089362007-06-25T18:28:00.000+08:002007-06-25T18:28:00.000+08:00re: taichung harbour...i know a lot of deaths were...re: taichung harbour...<BR/><BR/>i know a lot of deaths were the result of strong undercurrents. <BR/><BR/>it's like you are walking and playing in shallow beach, but the next monent, you can't find your foothold. <BR/><BR/>it happened quite a lot in taiwan, and even good swimmers can't seem to escape from it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-33323242167087697682007-06-24T22:26:00.000+08:002007-06-24T22:26:00.000+08:00"They were "playing" in shallow water outside of T..."They were "playing" in shallow water outside of Taichung Harbor, apparently, and drowned in water that was deep enough to stand up and walk out of."<BR/><BR/>Forget swimming, how about teaching them how to stand up?davesgonechinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523474568477613146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-16186584803341245762007-06-24T21:13:00.000+08:002007-06-24T21:13:00.000+08:00The article indicates that poor or missing warning...The article indicates that poor or missing warning signs might be the probelm. In Australia kids start learning to swim as young as 2 and definately by age 6. The single problem in Taiwan is that kids just don't learn to swim<BR/>Steve FAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-69336768784536549472007-06-24T18:28:00.000+08:002007-06-24T18:28:00.000+08:00In my high school, we had a required swimming test...In my high school, we had a required swimming test that treading water for 45 minutes, and knowing how to use shirts and pants as a make-shift life vest. Passing the test was a requirement for graduation, and only seriously disabled students were exempt.<BR/><BR/>FYI, I grew up more than a 1000 miles from the closest ocean or great lake.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09652288045145591799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-40882444835770981782007-06-24T14:43:00.000+08:002007-06-24T14:43:00.000+08:00I think the statistics are even worse when you con...I think the statistics are even worse when you consider the average Australian child would spend far more time swimming and playing around water than a Taiwanese child.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com