The Washington herald., 1916-04-07
TEACH YOUTHS
RIVER SAFETY
Police and School Officials
Begin Campaign to Prevent
Summer Accidents.
SCHOOLS HEAR LECTURES
W. E Longfellow and Policeman Brun-
ner Telling How to Save Lives.
Crusade Will Last Week.

The police department and the pub
lie school officials yesterday launched
campaign to reduce by instruction
in the schools the large number of
water accidents that befall children
every summer.
The campaign, which will last one
week. beginning with today, was ar
ranged at a conference yesterday
morning between Mai. Pullman,
stephen E. Kramer, assistant SUPER
intendent of schools, and wilburt Z.
Longfellow, life-saving expert of the
American Red Cross. Washington is
the nrst city in the United states to
launch such a campaign In the
schools, and IL is probable that hum
dreds OF American cities will follow
the example of the National Capital
during the next few months.
Maj Pullman said the campaiqn
was prompted by the unusual number
OF drownings that occurred in the wa
ters around the District last summer.
Last year We had an epidemic of
drownings," said Maj. Pullman, there
being thirty-two cases reported up to
June 80. the end OF the fiscal wear.
OF course, most of these occurred
during the warm months. From June
10, last year, up to April 1, this year,
twenty-eight drownings have been re-
the schools We hope to reduce the
number to less than twenty during the
fiscal year 1911"
Immediately after the conferencs
yesterday morning. Maj. Pullman and
MI, Longfellow went to the Jefferson
School, Sixth and d streets southwest.
where they launched the campaign be-
fore more than 500 boys of the schools
IN that section. After a short address
oy MAJ Pullman and Miss Anne Beers,
supervising principal of the Eighth
school district, Mr.. LongfelIow ex-
planned to the boys practical "don'ts"
Tor swimming and boating.
He cautioned them about going into
the water after eating, taught them how
TO break the death-grip OF a drowning
comrade, showed them how to swim
ashore with a drowning person, and how
10 resuscitate the person on shore. He
also warned them of the danger of
rocking the boat" and of changing
seats in a canoe. Maj. Pullman and Mr.,
Longfellow both pointed to the advan-
tages of knowing how to swim, even
Tor boys who do not love water sports.
Mr.. LongfellOw was assisted in his
lecture by Policeman F. ]. Drummer, of
the Harbor precinct. Capt. G. H Will
iams, Of the Fourth precinct, and Lieut.
Russell Dean, of the Harbor, also were
PiSSShA- EOuCcIIldn bFunner Will assist
Mr.. Longfellow in his lectures at the
following schools on the following days:
Central High School, at o'clock this
morning, with stereopticon slides; ]
Ormond Wilson Normal School, at IO:45
this morning, with slides; Western High
School, 1:3O this afternoon, with slides;
Western High School, 2:l5 this afternoon,
for elementary pupils; Business High
School, O'Clock next Thursday morning,
with slides; Mckinley High School, next
Thursday at 10 a. m. with slides: Grover
Cleveland School, next Thursday at 2:l5,
elementary pupils; Eastern High School,
next Friday morning at O'Clock, with
slides, and Bryan School, next Friday
at 2:l5, elementary pupils.
Maj. Pullman was desirous of extending
the campaign, but Mr.. LongfeIlow must
leave Washington for a tour of the West,
where he probably will carry Washing
tons novel campaign.
Washington averages thirty-five deaths
year from drowning, practically all
Of which occur during the summer, and
In many cases to high school pupils.