Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-07-29
SAVING THE DROWNING.

Editor Every Evening--rnder the
caption Protection for Eathers" you
published in ysbur editorial columns n
letter urging the city authorities to
provide Hpnlmotors and other first-aid
eatmentsa az the swimming pools and
also persons In addition 10 the regu-
lar caretakers. qualified to act in emer-
pencies. 1t may interest you and
your contributor to know that the
Delaware Safety Council has been
acting quietly In this matter for sew
eral weeks. Before making definite
recommendations, however. as 70 what
should be provided. we have made u
complete study Of all available infor-
nation on drownlngs within the city
during the past two years. We have
been collecting complete information
on what life saving equipment is
already provided at bridges, wharves.
parks. etc. and In the case OF the
municipal wharf have had an expert
safety engineer study conditions on
the ground and look further into the
actual eIrctmsta afices surrounding The
fatal accidents that have occurred IN
the last few months-and with all due
respect 10 the local press and its
sources Of information. Il is only fair
to state that there have been many
ear-drownlngs notreported and many
and many important circumstances ar
Ifecting the reported drownings which
had not previously been brought to
light Matters have now reached the
point where It has seemed to the Of
ficera of the Delaware Safety Council
expedient 10 ask for a meeting Of the
Water Life Saving Committee of the
Delaware Chapter Of the American
Rad Cross. SO that proper steps can
he taken to undertake immediate cure
for the worst conditions.
1t seems unfair to the present park
pool attendants to infer that they are
not properly qualified TO rescue per-
sons drowning in the pools over which
they have charge. and certainly con-
difions AZ public swimming places
other than pools. are far more serious
in this respect. On the other hand
the campaign for instructing persons
| In swimming begun last year by the
Y. NJ G. A. and. with addition Of in
struction in water life saving and the
formation Of Life Saving Corps. in.
augurated this year by the Delaware
Safety Council and undertaken and
ably executed by tho Water Life Saw.
ing Committee Of the Delaware Chap.
ter of the American Red Cross. II un.
doubtedly the best step that could bs
taken 10 insure the presence Of prop
erly qualified life savers in an emer.
gency. The rescue IN the Kirkwooc
Park pool was made by one Of the life
saving graduates and there have beer
several others equally worthy Of note
This work is being continued. Per-
sons are being taught to swim, and
others are completing their qnaligca-
lions as life savers. Some 1900 have
received instruction this year.
As regards resuscitatton after the
lrescue has been accomplished, Il
should be borne in mind that n1echan.
ical devices for artificial respiration
have been subjected to much eritf.
cism and their use has in serne cases
been abandoned IN favor Of what j.
known as the schaeffer method q
| manuaI resuscitation. This Is taught
IN practically all first-aid classes ane
/ il the method taught and used BY botE
/ the Volunteer and American Rec
Cross Life Savers. It is simple. read
fly learned. and dependable, which can
not be said to apply in all respect,
to the mechanical devices that are 81
the market and which have received
much publicity. The writer, there.
fore. is inclined to recommend yer,
positively against the purchase of sucl
devices and TO urge that instead, al
regular attendants OF pools, and al
many others as can be interested II
the matter be taught the type Of ar
tificial respiration which is equally ef
fectiye in cases Of drowning. gas as
| phyxiation, or electric shock.
| Please do not infer from the abov,
statements that everything that coul.
/ be done is being done-this is not tn,
case, but at least two organizations
the Delaware Safety Council and tn,
Delaware Chapter of the American
Red Cross. are actively at work on tn,
problem.
Very truly yours.
Lewis DeBIois,
President,