DO YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO SWIM TO BE A FLIGHT ATTENDANT?
Survival swimming is an important skill that a flight attendant has. In case of an emergency landing, there would be a possibility that the aircraft will crash on a body of water. And if that happens, you have a responsibility to make sure that all passengers will evacuate the aircraft and there would be an instance wherein the escape raft and lifevests would not inflate or it would be unavailable for that matter. If that is the case, what should you do? So, do you think that there is really a need to know how to swim to become a flight attendant?
Of course.
Because as I have mentioned, there might be an unwanted occasion of an emergency water landing. And even if there is a lifevest or a safety raft available, it is very obvious that to know how to swim is an undeniable skill to have. So as whatever unexpected occurrence that might happen, as a flight attendant, you are certain that you can take care of yourself and at the same time look out for the well being of your passengers.
So what about those that cannot swim?
You still can. I’ll admit, I am not confident when it comes to that aspect. I can even say that I cannot swim. For some unknown reason, I am not buoyant. But does a lack of mastery of this skill will stop me from being a flight attendant? It didn’t. Because I am one.
Once you have been accepted in the industry, there will be a survival swimming training or ditching. This is where cabin crew are trained on how to handle different possible scenarios if an aircraft would have an emergency landing on water. And depending on the airline, this may involve life vests or it may not. Thus, the need to be able to swim. So as a self proclaimed person that can’t swim, what did I do?
Simple. I did my best.
There were exercises that involved doing laps, and with practice prior, I passed them. What about other drills that involved threading or floating. Even if I am not buoyant, and it was very difficult for me, again, I did my best. And I never gave up. To be honest, that was the most difficult part of my flight attendant training.
I believe that this is the premise, that whether or not you can swim or you are not self-assured with your swimming abilities like myself, even to the point of saying that you don’t know how to swim, as a cabin crew, you must be confident and competent that if something like an emergency landing on water occurs, you are positive that you can save yourself and your passengers.
Regardless of your swimming skills, if you are placed in a body of water wherein all you need to survive is to float, thread or swim, will you quit? I don’t think so. But if you did, if you gave up on your life, then it’s safe to say that you will also cease on looking out for the well being of your passengers. So, if you are like such, then somehow, you defeat the purpose of being a flight attendant. After all, we are here to make sure that our passengers are safe. And if that would be difficult for you, then why hire you in the first place?
So for those who can swim, great. For those who can’t, learn.
But what if you really can’t acquire that ability, then do your best. Survive. Would that work? Yes, sometimes it is enough. I am a perfect example. I am not secured with my swimming skills. I can even say that I can’t swim. Yes I tried learning, I did all that I could, even had swimming lessons at one point but I know what my body can and can’t do.
So what if an emergency comes? Because as much as I say that I can’t swim, when it counts, you can trust that I can. Because I have proven it during my training. I faced all the challenges with courage and I passed it. I may not be the best at it or you may say that it is one of my weaknesses but if and when the time comes that I have to, I will throw all that doubt away because I know I can deliver. I will deliver. And you can count on me.
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