Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-16
SHOULD LEARN TO SWIM


TT = = - + + Z Z : = + T n
move alternately and not in unison. "a in
me breast stroke. The advantages OF the
Liverpool stroke are economy of effort ana
relief in breathing the right lung being
practically out of the water Great speed
through the water may be developed by
this stroke and 1t is the most used by
professional swimmers. Once mastered IL
is easier than the breast stroke and twice
as effective
After learning the swimming strokes
practice Is the only essential thing to make
a good swimmer. Movement through the
water soon becomes easy and without
WEAKNESS. Then comes the endurance for
a long swim with the change In strokes for
rest. and experience in all the changed
conditions of being long submerged in the
water. When all this is attained there is
no more eXhilarating sport than swimming.
Accidents in the Water.
To be thrown into the water by the cap
sizing OF a boat or to find ones self swept
toward danger by the treacherous current
is serious matter. especially If n person
is not good swimmer What usually
happens under such circumstances is too
well embazoned upon the mortality records
of seaside and river resorts to need com
ment. In the majority of Instances. 1t
means drowning. unless help arrives
promptly. Yet perilous as the experience is.
it should not be hopeless. The first thing is
to avoid If possible, the panic of fear which
seizes almost everybody when suddenly
thrown into the water and which destroys
all chance of safety. BY remaining cool
and making exerton to keep afoat in the
manner described life may be spared.
Above ALL do not seize hold Of the per
son nearest with vice-lke grip and drag
both to destruction. Herein lies the duty
of learning to swim. Many a person cap
able of saving himself has been drowned
by one or more helpless people seizing
hold of him a a time of accident and over
coming his strength. Some time ago man
OUT fishing fell out of his boat into the
Potomac river. He foundered about in
the water calling loudly for help. sailor
on small craft not far away. an expert
swimmer plunged in and went TO the
mans assistance. AS soon as the lifesaver
was within reach the struggling man
grabbed him about the throat In a grin
which the sailor could not shake off. The
act rendered him powerless to give aid
or to save himself Both men sank twice
and were saved only by the timely arrival
OF man in a boat. Had tragedy oc-
CURED the death of the sailor would have
been no better than murder. Here was a
man unable to swim guilty In the first
instance of inexcusabe negligence and
seized with panic which nearly defeated the
efforts put forth in his behalf and almost
DESTROYED himself and his benefactor. Life
guards at watering places say this grab
ping at the swimmers coming to their aid
constitutes the chief peril of taking drown
Ing persons out of the water.
If possible keep away from the others
when accident occurs until the question of
Keeping afloat yourself is settled Grab
the boat if it is floating and use It as a
support, put do not try to climb into It
or upon II II bottom up for this means
either sinking the craft or endangering the
Hves or others who may have caught hold
OF IL. III an oar or any other piece of
noatlng wood is near seize 1t as a support
Cling to 1t and make for the shora n r.
Is near Otherwise wait for assistance nv
all means husband the strength seeking 70
d,oiu exhaustlon by too rapid movements
IN nor tuhateiy Tor the person who has had
Ittle or no experience in the water the ef
iort 10 Keep afioat at such a time must
oe MADE at about ten times the expense OF
energy required by the expert suirn,,ar
breathe deeply. Get rid of the outer cIath
ing Il IL can be done. as every Mound of
water-soaked garments is weight nuIifna
or one ,n mearer Gown to death. Call for helm
comes. '' until IL
Changed Conditions in Water
1t Is well to have a clear idea y, t,.
changed conditions In which a nerson ends
himself when In the water In ~. G..
place. the radiation of heat from, ~, -
Is much more rapid and increases tbs 49,,
action. This. In some cases, IL s,,f,c,or,
10 paraiyze the muscles and produce tba
coiapse known as cramps" Hence tba
need or care against swimming too fast
IL otten happens that inexperienced sw,,,-
ihers 90 themselves injury by overexertion
In the first few minutes they are In r.
water They do not realize the tremaraou.
burden they are putting upon the lungs
and heart. or the danger they run of daatt
from the paralysis of the vital nowors
cases are constantly reported in the mar
OF persons attempting to swim too far
ana drowning from exhaustion
In ADDITION to the radiation of heat the
pressure upon the body is much Increased
ana the EFFORT to breathe Is greater. This
.ehus 10 weakness and ten minutes exer-
eise IN swimming for the novice is as much
strain as the physical powers ought to be
SUBJECTED 10 without rest. Those who visit
watering places have observed the shiyer-
ing pathers. with pale faces and blue Inns.
indicating the chill of the body from re-
naming too long in the water They NAV
also have felt the lassitude which follows
These conditions simply show what the in
experienced person must contend against
when he is unceremoniously dumped out
of a boat on pleasure excursion The
only way successfully to overcome them
is in learning to swim and going frequent-
ly into the water in the summer months