The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-11-17
DROWNING.

The following judicious rules are drawn up
by MIR. u. o. Edward, of Chelsea, who turned
his attention to the subject from having recently
witnessed the drowning Of three men in eonse-
quence Of their own misdirected exertioas. HIS
belief is, that the majority of deaths Of this kind
arise from the same cause.
RULES TO GOVERN PERSONS WHO HAVE FALLEN
INTO DEEP WATER.
I. AS soon as you find yourself at the surface
of the water, whittier YOU are raised by your
own bdoyancy, let your body quietly take its
level, when the water will reach little above
your chin.
Q. Place one leg little forward, andthe other
a little backward, and stretch out your arms ON
either side, keeping them under the loGter. BY
a slight padding motion you may regulate the
position of the head, and prevent 1T from gravi-
tating downwards. Make no efforts, but wait
TRANQUILITY until succor arrives. You cannot
Si3lks~- .....-... tf
sistant, or you wild inTallibly sink him, without
benefttmg yourself. The best swimmer has no
more natural suoyancy than yourself, and would
be sunk by the eIertion Of very little force.
A. Be perfectly passive until your helper seize
you by the hind locks of your hair. Upon this
endeavor to second his efforts by throwing your
self on your back Hold your neck stiff, and let
your hind head sink into the water; then try to
propel yourselfb by slowly and regularly kicking
against the water. ,. s-.--
s. Be careful to keep every part OF your body
under water, except your face, ......
6. If tive or more persons are immersed toge-
tker, let them keep near each other. BY this
arrangement, one boat may save the whole par
ty at once; but, if they dispersed, one at
fine only can be picked up.
RULES TO GOVERN PERSONS WHO ATTEMPT TO
RESCUE THE DROWNING.
l.. Ia removing body from the water, whe-
Their into boat or drawingi it along by your own
efforts, always keep the face upwards.
2. Recollect that you have no more natural
buoyancy than the person you are attempting to
rescuei therefore do not attempt to raise him out
of the water, or you will sink yourself BY
gentle traction you may draw HIM towards the
boat or the landing place, without fatiguing
yourself ...,--
3. Always aim at seizing the hair of the hind
head, and keep the nape of the neck and your
own hand under the water; thus you ensure his
face and your own being above the surface
A. Keep your most powerful arm disengaged
for swimming, and keep the other projected for
ward, having hold, as already directed, of the
hair of his hind head. In this way you may ad-
vance side by side he floating supine on his back,
and you prone on your breast. tale
s.. As you approach the persons immersed. let
them know by shout; the voice reverberates
with double distnctness from the guriace of the
water, and the prospect OF app oaching aid adds
10 the COhlloIlCe anu consequently ~ luC SiShSt
Of the distressed. ~
g. Let your movements be deliberate, firm,
| and gentle.
With view to remove apprehensions about
The weight of wet clothes on person immersed
In water, MIR. Edwards says:
| To ascertain the increase of w light which
clothing adds to the body in water, male an
experiment. | tied up in bundle complete
suit of raiment, consisting of cloth surtout,
waistcoat and trowsers, linen shirt, pair OF
cotton drawers, pair of cotton stockings, and
| a. pair Of Wellington boots. The weight OF the
bundle when dry was seven pounds, 1t was
kept immersed IN water, and under heavy
| weight, for an hour, until every particle of air
was expelled fIom the interstiees. 1t weighed
in the water Just one pound. Immediately after
being taken out of the water, it weighed t'cen-
tyrone pounds. .,.tatg ,9.i-f..r
These calculations are intended, and when
tested by personal experiment, ought to Undue
the mind of every man with the convictiop-the
firm confident conviction-that he is naturally
buoyant in the water. Fer, deducting the Ell
lects of fear and the weight of clothing from the
fifteen pounds OF sustaining leyity belonging to
the body per Sc, the remainder would be eleven
pounds eight ounces, which is quite enough to
prevent the immersion of the breathing aper-
lures, that is, the mouth and nostrils.