The purpose of On Drowning was to study and record the movements of people actually drowning from the beginning of their plight, through their development and subsequent rescue . The majority of this 17 minute film is comprised of slow motion closeup examination of actual , not staged, near-drownings and rescues. These cases include singles, doubles, triples, and a group of four. The filming was done from a lifeguard tower at Orchard Beach located on Long Island Sound in New York City.
Orchard Beach is a non-surf bathing area with little or no current.
Nearly all of the near drownings and rescues occur as nonswimmers step off a low-tide shelf into deep water. Because of the low-tide drop off, the drownings and rescues are exactly the same type as found in pools, lakes, and other still water areas. This study yielded valuable information which lifeguard services in Australia, Canada, Europe, the United States, and New Zealand have incorporated into their training programs. On Drowning and Observations on the Drowning of Nonswimmers were the first publications to note and explain the difference between a distressed swimmer and a drowning person. This crucial point is now recognized as one of the most important elements of lifeguard surveillance.