{"id":89,"date":"2014-03-19T17:12:08","date_gmt":"2014-03-19T21:12:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mypoolsigns.com/blog\/?p=89"},"modified":"2025-03-11T05:33:36","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T09:33:36","slug":"fear-water-common-deadly-think","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mypoolsigns.com/blog\/fear-water-common-deadly-think\/","title":{"rendered":"Fear of the water is more common \u2014 and more deadly \u2014 than you think"},"content":{"rendered":"

Carmen Electra. Richard Branson. Sandra Bullock. Snoop Dog. Eva Mendes. What do all these celebrities have in common<\/a>? They\u2019re adults who can\u2019t swim \u2014 a life-threatening problem that\u2019s about more than just being unable to compete in the Olympics. Chances are, these celebrities, and adults like them who can\u2019t swim, are afraid of the water<\/a>. In fact more than 60 percent<\/a> of Americans are afraid of deep water and more than 45 percent are afraid of water over their heads, according to a Gallup poll.<\/p>\n

\"adult<\/a>

For 45% of Americans, this is what a nightmare looks like. From Hector Alejandro<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n

The fear is so prevalent, it has its own <\/span>definition<\/a>: “<\/span>Aquaphobia is a <\/span>specific phobia<\/a> that involves a level of fear that is beyond the patient’s control or that may interfere with daily life. People suffer aquaphobia in many ways and may experience it even though they realize the water in an ocean, a river, or even a bathtub poses no imminent threat. They may avoid such activities as boating and swimming, or they may avoid swimming in the deep ocean despite having mastered basic swimming skills. This anxiety commonly extends to getting wet or splashed with water when it is unexpected, or being pushed or thrown into a body of water.”<\/span><\/p>\n

More than a slight embarrassment, this fear inevitably leads to drownings every year. The reason is simple: Those who are afraid of the water don\u2019t learn to swim; those who can\u2019t swim are susceptible to drowning. That\u2019s especially true if they become unexpectedly immersed in water. When that happens, fear turns to panic, which often leads to drowning.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most research focuses on preventing child drownings \u2014 the second leading cause of unintentional death in children age 0-4. But of the more than 3,400 annual drownings in the U.S., as many as <\/span>70 percent<\/a> are adults. Experts agree: an inability to swim increases the risk of drowning. That\u2019s especially true among African American males. Often adults who grow up with a fear of the water, pass on that fear to their children, which perpetuates the cycle, which partially explains why African Americans are three times more likely to drown than others.<\/span><\/p>\n

Regardless of race, for those who suffer from fear of water, it\u2019s more complicated than just saying, “Get over it.” An increasing number of <\/span>experts<\/a> are recognizing that this deeply entrenched fear needs to be treated like any other phobia before a person can learn to swim. Often this <\/span>treatment<\/a> involves getting into shallow water and slowly addressing the person\u2019s fear. While this can be done on your own (or with a friend), many aquaphobics find it helpful to work with a professional who specializes in helping adults overcome their water fears.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wondering if you or someone you know suffers from aquaphobia? Take this <\/span>quiz<\/a>. If the answer is, “yes,” make this the year you overcome your fear of water. It just might save your life.<\/span><\/p>\n

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