The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-09-13
How Not 10 Drown.

A. this season Of the year deaths by
drowning ARE painfully common. One
ran scarcely look in newspaper with
Jh seeing n record Of several, the re-
suit OF carclrssncSs, accident, on igmOr-
ancr, and 10 the latter cause may he
probably ascribcd the greater number.
II is astonishing Ia see how little is
known Of the buOyancy ol the human
body Until the lungs are filled with
water, il is easily supported, In still
water a piece u pine wood Of sufficient
olzc TO support the weight OF pound
~ two, say piece foot square aud
one inch thick, is enough when proper
" used 10 keep ones head above water;
nnd when the head is safe, no fears
need be had for the rest Of the body.
III course 10 float the head in this way
the body must be submerged, aud this
is the first rule 10 be observed when in
the water Keep under ns much ~
possible, only be- careful TO have the
breathing apparatus, mouth and nose,
IN the air, and the mouth even may be
immersed for some time wilhou! neon
ycnicncc.
The use TO be made OF the small piece
II wood above spoken Of is merely TO
mid in keeping the head above water
Resting one finger on il is quite rs scrv-
icchblc rs to grasp il with the hand, and
much more 50 than lie use both hands.
II should be- remembered that ANYTHING
weighs more ont Of than in water, hands
and feet being no exceptions This
piece Of pine would prove of little uso
should one attempt to sit ON it, while il
~ all that Is necessary to prevent one
from drowning if properly used With
the head supported by using one hand
or one finger, the other hand and the
feet may be used AS prOpcllcrs, and
even one who cannot swim at all can
make considerable progress in this way
An ordinary chair is sufficient to sustain
two or three persons when properly
used, but will prove of little service TO
one who cndcavOrs 10 make raft of it.
A knowledge of the fact that water
Is buoyant, and n little i-posscssion
or presence of mind will often
serve rs well or better than II
knowledge Of swimming, and this
knowledge should be- given to every
enid. Try it with one, and see how
readily he will learn to support himself
and propcl himself oyarwate. oy means
OF small piece of board, It is natural
for persons in water to cndcavor to get
themselves entirely out OF it, and in
eases where boats are overturned we
Ind their passengers cndeavoring To
climb upon them Tor safety, forgetting,
II they ever knew, that n boat is compe-
tent To support more people in the
water than it will carry when upright.
There is usually n little warning before
boat capsl2cs, and every one should
cndcayor TO keep hold of something a
rope, perhaps by which their conncc-
ton with the boat may be maintained,
and as soon n possible seize the boat
itself, not To climb on il unless the boat
Is large, or the number Of passengers
small, but to support themselves until
heIp comes, be it II longer or shorter
time,
All boats, large or small, should carry
considerable floating material in the way
oi seats. loose flooring, etc, that may
prove of service in eases of emergency.
Nany lives are lost in consequence of
the panic that usually cnSueS when an
Incident happens ON the water. All
who cannot swim, and sometimes those
who can. try to seize the first thing
within their reach, which often happens
TO he person rs frightened and help
less as themselves, and the result too
often ia the drowning of many who
might with n little thoughtiulncss not
only have saved themselves, but have
been OF assistance to others. If YOU
ever find yourself suddenly prcciptntol
INTO the water the probability is that
you will 20 under but if you win keep
your mouth shut and feet and hands
under, you will be sure to come up head
first, and if you are not too badlyscarcd
the chances are that you will find some
thing TO seize, with sclf-con,rol and
the knowledge we are trying to give
you, there are nincty-ninc chances in
every hundred against your drowning.
~ y. SIM