Two sisters were swimming off the coast of North Wales in Barmouth. Both were skilled swimmers, having taken lessons at school, but as the girls played, they were carried out farther and farther until they were pulled out to sea. On the beach, their mother, who could not swim, watched in horror as her daughters disappeared from her sight. As she called emergency services, the girls’ father swam out to reach the younger sister, Elsie, 10, who had swum vigorously to reach a sandbank. Mabel, 12, however, was still out in open water, the family unsure if she would make it. The coastguard arrived in a lifeboat within 30 minutes and rescued Mabel, finding her on her back, actively floating.
The girls later reported: As they became aware that they were getting into trouble, they became frantic, struggling to swim against the current. Elsie called out urgently to Mabel what she remembered learning in her swimming lessons, to float like a starfish. Mabel reported that it was her sister’s advice that saved her life. She calmed down, floated on her back, eased her breathing, and with waves breaking over her, waited until rescue came. ‘Float to Live’ is an anti-drowning technique developed as a result of research conducted at the University of Portsmouth. ‘Float to Live’ had been taught to the girls in their swimming classes, and ultimately saved Mabel’s life.
Nurses have been struggling to swim for almost 3 years. And now with the pandemic practically over, we are stuck dealing with the aftershocks of nursing shortages, decreased nursing school enrollment, healthcare financial crises, supply/demand issues, and global inflation. So, at the beginning of this year, when many are making New Years’ resolutions, planning for big life changes, and dreaming of possibilities, you may feel the need to float. To be certain, floating is not the same as coasting. Coasting implies that you have the energy, potential, and fortitude to do more than you’re willing, moving along without much active engagement. Floating is a life-saving intervention for someone who is panicked, fearful, exhausted, and has all but given up. Perhaps, like Mabel, you find yourself in a place where you need to ‘Float to Live’ for a period of time; or you may be like Elsie, with the energy to continue swimming, but you know some peers who need the advice to Float to Live. Floating gives you time to relax, steady your breathing, and survive, in the midst of life’s waves crashing around you. It gives your muscles the time they need to restore strength, so when you flip back over, you can head into the waves and swim effectively to move yourself forward.
The nursing profession was nothing short of extraordinary during the pandemic. In the midst of the challenges, we persevered. And we will continue to persevere. However, resolve or grit alone won’t cut it. We all need permission to ‘Float to Live’ every once in a while, to regain the strength to continue on.
Whether you’re swimming or floating, investigate resources to positively contribute to your wellbeing at https://gethealthy.uams.edu/pillars-of-wellness-at-uams/.