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SpaceShrimp t1_iweujcy wrote

Reply to comment by guynamedjames in TIL about Deaf lifeguard Leroy Colombo, who overcame childhood paralysis through swimming and saved a record-breaking 900+ lives during his career. His swimming talent and use of sight rather than sound to identify drowning swimmers allowed him to save people other lifeguards would have missed. by lemontreelemur

As one of the swimming people, your arms pull you through the water much more than the legs do.

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guynamedjames t1_iwgpzyl wrote

Drowning people aren't going for propulsion, they're basically trying to tread water. Your legs are very good at keeping you above water, and have the advantage that even without knowing how to "properly" kick your feet just moving them quickly will usually keep you afloat. Plus, it's not like they're going to stop using their arms.

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