Topic - Dangers of Overestimating Skills.  

Two young boys were tragically lost when they set sail from Florida. Parents reported that they “grew up” on the water and trusted their skills. 

Skills are one thing, judgment that comes from experience is yet another. 

Nearly 80% of downing victims are male because both boys and men overestimate their swimming ability.  This kind of “confident ignorance” is often thought of as stupidity, but it isn’t. 

Insufficient experience in a variety of situations and being too young to have fully developed brains are responsible. 

Basically, boys and men “don’t know what they don’t know”. Instead of waiting for learning opportunities to show up, training is required. 

Training is based on the universal factors that seem to pop up in many different situations.  Don’t ever think that a basic certification course or being exposed to situations is enough. 

Skill development is the key and refresher courses are critical to overcome panic in a crisis.  Don’t be sorry, be prepared.