St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-08-31
HINTS on SAFE BATHING.
Hsw - Overcome Dangers In Fresh
and Salt Water.

TOW - OVVFV0"V S&H9OTS tH ESSh
and Salt Water.
The great majority Of the accidents
in connection with bathing are due to
readily preventable causes and are of
ten entirely the result Of gross care
lessness or gross ignorance.
Take. for example. one of the most
dreaded causes of bathing accidents
and fatalities-the cramp. Now, cramp,
as a rule, is merely the result Of indi-
gestion, and it has been brought on in
the water owing to the fact that the
bather has rushed of almost immedi
ately after a meal, and the violent ex-
ercise, combined with the shock OF the
plunge into cold water, produces the
indigestion. which in turn produces
cramp.
Even when cramp manifests itself it
often happens that it is not cramp
which browns the bather. but his loss
Of presence OF mind. AS long as you
keep your head above water and do
not swallow deep drafts Of 1t you are
all right. With regard to cramp, If
you are near shore strike out for it
boldly, whatever tho pain. II the
crAmp is IN the arms turn over on your
back and kick yourself ashore with
your legs. II. however. the legs are
seized with cramp-aBd this Is usually
the case. but only one leg is usually
affected at a time-ahen turn on your
back. bend your toes upward, kick out
the cramped leg as hard as you can
and with one hand rub the cramped
spot, usually the calf, as hard as ever
you can.
Above all, never mind the pain, but
work the leg for all you are worth,
and do not lose confidence and start
drinking pints Of water. This cure has
often been effected in the water by an
expert swimmer.
Another common danger Of bathing
comes from strong tides or high waves,
and IN nearly every accident the bath
er has taken improper risks. II can
not be too strongly impressed on even
good swimmers that to swim out on a
failing tide is a most risky perform
ance. If you are accompanied by
boat. well and good, but if not the tide
has a trick OF getting stronger as the
water deepens. aad the difficulty OF re-
tuFasng increases every yard you swim.
AS to those whe eannst swim or who
can swim only q few strokes. an old
and expert swimmers advice Is that
one should never. even in calm wealth
er. re 0ut up 10 the armp1ts and play
abe7t at that depth. The slightest mo-
ton u the water at that depeh Will
carry you of your legs and az often as
not tnto deeper water. On a shelving
shore the weight OF tAe body will be
materially thrown forward into deeper
water Such persons should never
wade out deeper than their chests, and
then they should Immediately turn
around. face to the shore and strike
out for II.
It is really quite easy to propel your
self toward the shore even If you can
not swim. In many cases the act of
throwing your body forward will place
you IA safety. and IL at the same time
you SCOOP the water toward you with
followed hands you may cover In three
seconds some sevea or eight feet. If
at the same time you give a vigorous
kick with your leGs-w1th both legs, If
possible-you viii move a considerable
distance before you suffer your first
immersion. But the chief thing to re-
meTber Is that you should turn to-
ward the shore the moment the water
comes up to your chest and in no case
go out even to that depth when the
water Is rough.
Again, you should never battle. if in
the least delicate. upon an empty stom
ach before breakfast. The ideal time
is between two and three hours after
that meal. when your food is fairly
we'll digested
Yet another serious risk which is
COMMON to ali who battle in rivers is
danger from weeds. II you should
find yosr he<s entangled IN weeds-a
| most dangerous situation, which is
rendered more dangerous because Of
its effect on the ERia@-remenber this:
The only way TO rid yourself of weeds
is to stretch your body and legs out
quietly as Fat az you can. pull the wa
ter to you with followed hands and at
the same time make several very short
but rapid strokes with your legs. The
combined effect Of this action is al
most always to free you from the
weeds.
Above all, learn at once to float. 1t
Will get you out ef many a difficulty.
Given these precautions. ninety nine
people out of every hundred can battle
in warm weather with safety and ben
eft