Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-14
CAUTION IN WATER
URGED BY EXPERT
Red Cross Official Gives AID.
vice About Going in
Swimming.

Throughout the Spring and Summer
the American Red Cross has been pro-
vidipg a little recognized service along
the Potomac River The waterway Is
being patrolled every Saturday. Sunday
and holiday. and first-aid stations are
spaced along the river from the harbor
almost to Chain Bridge. In addition,
1 the life-Saving committee OF the Dis
trict Chapter has been carrying on an
educat ional campaign. the results OF
which are calculated to reduce the
number Of drownings.
In charge of this service Is Com
modore w. +. Iongfellow OF the Mon.
mouth Hotel, assistant national d.
rector of the first aid and life-Saving
division of the American Red Cross.
Commodore Longfellow trained both Of
the Districts Fire Department rescue
SQUADS and for q number of years con-
Quoted classes for the other firemen OF
! the department.
The best way to prevent drownfngs
In waters in the vicinity Of washington
is to provide plenty Of public bathing
places with proper supervision, Com
modore LonRfellow thinks. Because OF
the depth of the Potomac River and
it's widely separated swimming holes.
he advocates Its disuse for swimming
purposes, since 1t is impossible to fur
nish suficient safeguards. In addition,
its waters are said to be insanitsry and
muddy.
Cause Of Drawings.
According to the commodore. most
of the droWnings on the river have
been through fragrant violations of
common sense rules Of safety, and an
almost complete lack Of the fIlnda-
mental instruction which should be
given every swimmer and canoeist .
Here are a few suggestions he listed:
/. Avoid heavy meals before going on
the river.
Q. Wait at least An hour. especially
after eating hot dogs" and pop"
which may I'LL the stomach with gas.
3. Remember submersion In cold water
draws the blood to the surface Of the
body and away from the digestive Or
gans. Swimming is Q violent exercise
which calls for increased heart activity
4. Never swim alone.
s. Always swim at guarded places.
6. Learn to be a good all-around
swimmer in a pool before you tackle
river swimming.
7. In case Of q canoe accident. stick
to your boat. An ordinary II or 10 foot
canoe will support four persons, even
though it is filled with water.
8. Every rowboat or canoe with an
cupboard motor should be considered
as n motor boat and carry life pre-
servers for each person, and FIRE ex-
tinguisher.
8. In case of drowning the patient
Is treated as for electrocution or gas
poisoning. The best treatment Ia by
hand pressure, requiring no machine.
How to handle Canoe.
The seventh rule recalls Q recent
demonstration by the commodore, as
sisted by volunteer life-savers, Of how
to handle a canoe in case of accident
1t was shown that four persons could
actually sit In the bottom OF a water
filled and submerged canoe and still
keep their heads above water. BY
padding with their hands they could
also make progress forward.
The life-savers demonstrated that q
man can be taken into a canoe over the
side with perfect safety. The two men
propelling the boat brace their paddles
against the gunwale on either side of
the craft with the nat side Of the blade
down. BY pressure either up or down