The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-06-10
Avoid Death Grip by Diving, Ex.
pert Advises; Grasp by
Hair or Bathing Suit
USE EQUIPMENT If HANDY
Resuscitation Most important
Phase; Schaefer Prone
Method Is Simple
By CAPT. CHARLES B..SCULLY
Director Greater New York Life Saw.
Ing Service, American Red Cross
written for NEA Service Through
Arrangement With Swim.
mcr Maraxinel

mcf MAg1xlne)
The average swimmer can do many
things In . drowning accident II he
will only keep cool and think clearly.
The logical and safe thing to do is
to swim out to q person who is drown
Ing, conserving as much of your en-
ergy as possible and always keeping
before you the fact that you have
to carry that person back to shore
and that you will need a great deal
Of strength.
Always keep your head up and
watch the one drowning. otherwise he
may 60 down and it will be impos-
sible for you to determine exactly
where he left the surface of the water.
When you get out to him do not
grasp hold at once. Stay four or five
feet away from him until you are
sure that he has exhausted himself
enough with his struggles so he can
not grasp hold of you. You can then
take him by the hair or by the bath
ing suit and start to tow him back to
shore.
Remember to keep the drowning
persons mouth out of water as much
as possible. for If he is permitted to
breathe. he will. of course. be more
buoyant and will not be so frightened.
= \
Many times swimmers do get
caught In q s0-called death grip"
which Immediately becomes q fallacy
when you realize that the one reason
= drowning person grasps hold Of the
Iescuer Is to climb on top of him to
get air. So that II you are caught in
. grip by a drowning person do not
up all your strength by battling
him; just take a good deep breath
and go down. In 50 times out of 100
you will find that the drowning per-
son will let 60.
A real life saver never makes a
swimming rescue when he has life
saving equipment handy. He is merely
leopardtzing the life of the person he
Is trying to save and his W II he
does not make use of other means at
his command.
In the average drowning accident
one can usually find a chair or plank
or box. or something that will float
and help support the person who is
drowning or who is In trouble.
\
The average swimmer a do lots
Of things to make swimming safe by
observing the safety rules himself
Just remember that II you do foolish
many others will follow your
lead.
Cramps in the water seem to have
Z terrible effect on the minds Of the
general public. Contrary to the gen.
eral belief, muscular cramps should
not put anyone out of commission.
For instance, II you do get cramps in
both your arms at once, which Is UNI
likely to happen. you can turn over
on your back and get yourself ashore
your legs. II you get cramps in
both OF your legs at one time it would
be possible to keep yourself afloat by
Just using your arms. OF course, with
? stomach cramp you are absolutely
helpless.
The most important phase of life
Is resuscitatiOn, for II you Get
some one out Of the water whose
breathing has stopped, and you do
nothing but lay him down and send
Tor an ambulance or q doctor, the
person may die before aid arrives.
Remember that u you don't do any
Thing to start the breathing of q per-
on whose breathing has stopped you
might just as well throw him back
INTO the water until the doctor does
arrive. Once the breathing has
stopped. It will seldom start again
without artificial stimulation.
The Schaefer prone pressure meth
ID Of resuscitation. which Is the one
universally used; has its greatest value
u the fact that It Is very efficient and
Extremely simple. You get the person
put Of the element which caused the
apparent d~eath-Water, gas, smoke.
shock. or whatsoever II may Be.
Lay him face down; stretch both arms
ont over the head: then lay the head
% the back Of the right hand. the
lace turned toward thu left. Kneel
one or both knees; bring your
hands down the back until you find
Ehe last rib. Keep your arms Straight;
apply your weight down and up to-
ward the head. keeping this preesure
% for about three seconds, then re-
Lease with . snap. Come back and
rest for about two seconds. Then re-
peat the operation.
On the down pressure the lower
rib are forced In and up; the In
teetines are lifted against the dia-
phfaem; the diaphragm u forced
against the lungs. contracting the
lungs and forcing out Ill the foul air
and other foreign matter.
When you release, the ribs spring
back. the intestincs draw back. and
the diaphragm drops down. the lungs
expand. sucking In pure air and