The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1910-05-19
HINTS ON SAFE BATHING.
How to Overcome Dangers In Fresh
and Salt Water.


and Salt Water.
The great majority Of the accident,
IN connection with bathing are due t
readily preveniable 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 rule. is merely the result Of lndi
gestion, and II has been brought on in
the water owing to the fact that the
bather has rushed of almost lmmedi.
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 manlfests itself II
often happens that II 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 IL you are
all right. With regard to cramp, If
you are near shore strike out for II
boldly, whatever the 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-and this is usually
the case, but only one leg is usually
affected at time-then 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. 1t can
not be too strongly impressed on even
good swimmers that to swim out on q
falling tide is most risky perform
ance. II you are accompanied by a
boat, well and good, but II not the tide
has a trick Of getting stronger as the
water deepens, and the difficulty Of re-
turning increases every yard you swim.
AS TO those who cannot swim or who
can swim only a few strokes, an old
and expert swimmers advice Is that
one should never, even In calm wealth
err, go out up to the armpits and play
about at that depth. The slightest mo
ton of the water at that depth will |
carry you Off your legs and as often as
not into deeper water On shelving |
shore the weight of the body will be |
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 |
,ut for IL,
II 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 In safety. and If at the same time
you scoop the water toward you with
followed hands you may cover In three
econds some seven or eight feet. If
Il the same time you give a vigorous
dick with your legs-wlth both legs, II
,ossible-you will move considerable
distance before you suffer your first
But the chief thing to re
member is that you should turn to-
ward the shore the moment the water
ONES up To your chest and In no case
o out even TO that depth when the
yater is rough.
Again, you should never battle, II In
he least delicate, upon an empty stom-
oh before breakfast The ideal time
! between two and three hours after
hat meal, when your food is fairly
'ell digested.
Yet another serious risk which is
ommon TO all who battle In rivers Is
anger from weeds II you should
nd your legs entangled In weeds-a
lost dangerous situation, which is
sndered more dangerous because Of
s effect on the mind remember this;
he only way TO rid yourself Of weeds
TO stretch your body and legs out
uletly as fiat as you can. pull the wa.
II 10 you with followed hands and at
ne same time make several very short
ut rapid strokes with your legs The
,mbined effect Of this action Is al
lost always TO free you from the
eeds
Above all learn at once TO foat. II
III get you out OF many difficulty.
iven these precautions, nlnety-nine
sople out Of every hundred can battle
warm weather with safety and ben
IL