Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-23
BACK NECK GRIP.

is on his side and supports the victim
on his upper hip. The under arm moves
as in the side stroke, but may be used
as sustainer by bending the elbow
and pushing partly downwards, de-
pending upon the buoyancy of the one
in distress.
The breath is taken in through the
mouth when the arm is about half
through Its pull and let out through
the nose during the rest of the time.
The arm is pulled with the kick Of the
legs or separately, at the option of the
swimmer. The latter method is pre-
,ferred because 1t is steadier.
Care must be taken in this method of
carrying not to grip around the neck
on account of choking.
In all of the three lows for strug
Cling persons the more the victim
thrashes his limbs the better, for it
assists in keeping him up. The prin-
cipal thing to guard against is the
desire to turn over and to double up
at the waist.
In making a rescue. tow with the
current IL possible, and gradually work
toward the shore.
The secret of getting away from an
antagonist when clutched in the water
is to prevent a settled hold, to sink
and slide out and then clutch him so
that he cannot catch hold again. To
become an expert in breaking grips it
Is necessary to have considerable prac-
tice. Every conceivable kind of grip
can be given in the water. but
frightened person on the surface will
clutch at what is above water, usually
gripping around the neck from either
the front or the back and trying to
climb UP. II he is under water he will
try, to hold. usually with hug, and
and sometimes with the hands alone.
If clutched around the body under
water 1t Is simple matter to scull
to the surface and breathe while the
drowning man hangs on. and, if the
shore IL not too far of. to scull to it.
On the other hand. If the victim is un-
conscious and loosens his hold it will
be necessary to dive for him, and.
bringing him to the surface, support
him long enough for help to arrive or
When finishing the breaking of a
hold always get the subject by the
head-carry method to prevent him
from turning over or doubling up at
the waist. Get the habit of doing this.
and when the emergency comes it will
be done without thought. Also, in
breaking holds practice in two ways;
first. try to get away before the sub
ondly. allow the subject to take his
time and hold very firmly and tight.
Also practice having him take any hold
that may suit his fancy. and continue
to struggle after the hold is broken,
until he has been lowed a given dis
lance.
The following are the three principal
holds and their releases as recon-
mended by the American Red Cross:
THE WRIST HOLD.-A weak person
can break stronger ones hold by sud
denly twisting his arms in the opposite
direction from which his opponents
thumbs point and applying pressure
away from his adversary's fingers.
That is, If the drowning persons
thumbs are down, the arms are twist
ed toward each other. and, II they
are on the upper side of the wrists the
arms are twisted away from each other
At the finish of the release the arms
of the rescuer should be straight at
the elbows
FRONT NECK GRIP.-Place one hand
on the small of the victims back and
pull forward. At the same time push
the knee of the opposite leg in his
stomach and shove his head back by
placing the hand under his chin, fin
gers squeezing the nose and arm on
the outside of the encircling arm of
the one in distress. AS his head goes
back turn 1t to one side in order to
start his BODY turning. Both will