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My neighbor swore you need to wait an hour after eating to swim or you'll get a cramp and drown
Last summer at the community pool in Springfield, my neighbor Bob was telling his kids they had to wait a full hour after their hot dogs before getting back in the water. He said it's a hard rule or you'll get a bad cramp and go under. I'd heard that my whole life too, but it got me thinking. I looked it up that night and found out from the Red Cross and a bunch of doctors that it's basically a myth. They say cramps can happen anytime, and while a full stomach isn't great for comfort, it doesn't suddenly make you drown. The real risk is just being tired or drinking alcohol. So now I just tell my kids to listen to their bodies and not swim if they feel too full or sick. Has anyone else had to unlearn this old rule with their family?
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grant_hart1mo ago
Honestly it's just one of those things parents say to get a break.
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thea_mitchell201mo ago
Yeah, I feel that, grant_hart.
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