The Penn's Grove record., 1911-07-07
Bihrs ON SAFE BATHING
How to overcome DANGERS in Fresh
and Salt Water.

How to overcome DANGERS in Fresh
and Salt Water.
The great majority Of the accidents in
connection with battling are due to read
lily preventable causes and are often
entirely the result OF gross carelessness 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 indigestion,
and it has been brought,o on in the water
owing to the fact that the bather has
hurried off almost Immediately after a
meal, and the violent exercise, 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 it you are all right.
With regard to cramp, if you are near
| shore strike out for it boldly, whatever
the pain. If 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 a 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 eve
you can.
Above all, never mind the pain, but
work the legs 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 bather
has taken improper risks. 1t cannot be
too strongly impressed on even good
swimmers that to- swim out on a falling
tide is a most risky performance. Ii you
are accompanied by a boat, well n
good, but if not the tide has a trick OF
getting stronger as the water deepens,
and the difficulty OF returning everyNyard
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 i'll calm water, go
out up to the armpits and play about
at that depth. The slightest motion OF
the water at that depth will carry you
off your legs and as often as not into
deeper water. On a shelving shore the
weight of the body will be naturally
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 it.
1t is really quite easy to propel your
self toward the shore even if you cannot
swim. In many cases the act of throw
ing your body forward will place you in
afety, and if at the same time you scoop
the alter toward you with followed
hands you may cover in three seconds
some seven or eight feet. Ii at the same
time you give a vigorous kick with your
legs-with both legs, if possible-you
will move a considerable distance before
YOU suffer your first immersion. But the
chief thing to remember is that you
should turn toward the shore the mo-
ment the water comes up to your chest
and in no case go eyen 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
bet Ween two and three hours after that
meal, when your food is fairly well di-
gested.
Yet another serious risk which is COM
mon to all who battle in rivers is danger
from weeds. II you should find your
legs entangled in weeds-a most danger
GUS situation, which is rendered more
dangerous because OF its effect on the
mipd-remember this: The only way to
rid yourself OF weeds is to stretch your
body and legs out quietly as fiat as you
can, pull the water to you with followed
hands and at the same time make several
cry short but rapid strokes with your
legs. The combined effect of this action
is almost always to free you from the
weeds.
Above all learn at once to float. 1t
will get you out of many a difficulty.
Given these precautions, ninety-nine
people out Of every hundred can battle