The evening world., 1911-07-12
Members Are Taught to
Care for ThemseiUes
and HoU to Aid Others
in the Water, and
After Reaching Shore.
"F All Girls Could SWim
as Most Boys Do a
Slocum Disaster Would
Be Impossible" Says
League Head.
BY Marguerite Moocrs MARSHALL.

BY Marguerite Moocrs Marshall.
the United States has been established
In New York. II has two hundred and
tw~enty-seven local members. and
branches are forming In New JERSEY,
feels justified In naming i'self q ma
tional" league. and It's object Is precisely
that OF the United States Volunteer Life
Saving Corps. the prevention Of loss of
life through drowning.
All OF which I learned yesterday from
Miss Katharine Mehrtcn. the president
and ono of the founders Of tho new
league.
we organized to help each other and
to help the public" explained Miss
Mehrten. Every girl In our league
knows how to take car OF herself in
the water. Most Of them could take
care Of somebody else IL necessary.
"The league wat started by ten or a
dozen swimming teachers. but any girl
who wishes nay Join. She has only to
be introduced by one OF the members.
and she pays 81 initiation fee and Atty
cents q yea dues. This Is just enough
to cover the few expenses.
TAUGHT FIRST TO TAKE CARE
OF THEMSELVES.
Many of our members are sisters OF
men who belong to the United States
Life Saving Corps. with whom we main
tain the most cordial relations. But we
have stenographers. school teachers
workers in stores n shops. trained
nurses. actresses and artists. Nearl,
every trade and profession 1, repre-
scented.
During the winter we met every Fri
day night at the city baths at Twenty
third street. The girls who know how
to swim teach the others. and we hav,
lectures from members Of the voluntee
Life Saving Corps.
After the girls learn TO swim the!
are instructed In the technique Of lifs
saving. They have practice. too. Will
the experienced sw!mmsr who play tn,
part Of drowning persons to make tn,
lessons realistic.
They learn all about the six differ
ent varieties Of the strange hold am
how to break zach one. They learn tn,
different methods OF 'carry'-thst Is
keeping . person afoat. There are 81,
different carries'-the head. tho unde
arm. the biceps. the German arm. an,
the breast stroke and side stroke carry.
the last two being particularly adapted
TO the tired swimmer.
TAUGHT HOW TO REVIVE THOSE
TAKEN FROM WATER.
The proper methods of resuscitatioI
are taught. too. We use the same EN-
ployed by the Volunteer Life Savin,
Corps. The irst thing. OF course. Is 4
get the water out OF the body. Thi
may be done by tickling the throat. or
In severe cases. rolling the body from
side to side when 1t is lying on tn,
stomach with the tongue held torwar,
In the mouth.
After that It 10 necessary TO restor
the breath. by laying the body on III
back n raising and lowering the arm
to produce a bellows movement on IT,
lungs. This IL done sixteen timer
minute.
FINALLY. when there are signs Of life
the patients clothing is removed. tn,
body dried, ar tho limbs, arms an,
body rubbed briskly toward the hear
TO restore Circulate. the patient 1
then wrapped in warm blankets or III
cloths.
"All this instruction Is carefully fol
lowed. and indeed there Rave been on
or two bona fide rescues already a
the baths.
twenty-five of our girls have