Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-09

HELP! NAN DROWNING !"-and
oscuy go the life guards. Usually its
case of cramps. DR.. BosSer says the first
thing to do When attacked by cramps is
TO keep your head. Stop exerting sour
self. Only a Uery little effort is needed
to keep the body ajfoat, especially in
salt Uater. Take things easy and rub
the cramped member if possible. Then
keep calm and signal for assistance.
must be guarded against it shock. Running
about the beach until overlleated, then plunging
into the cold water gives real shock to the
system, especially if there is any heart trouble.
And it is not only the older folks who must
guard against this. I recall two cases, one
fellow the other young girl. Took one dive
into the waves and did not come up. The
shock was too much for their systems
1T is easy to detect these cases Of heart
attack which ordinary folk might set down as
drowning. Generally the examiners decision is
verified by relatives of the victim who reveal
that he or she had a heart condition and had
been warned against overexertion and shock.
We have, Is ] said before @ couple Of these
cases every year. And they are to be expected.
since among the bathers crowding beach dur
ing Summer season you viii ind all types OF
body conditions from perfect specimens to
human wrecks so unhealthy that you wonder
how they get by.
Tin regard to shock from the sudden change
] In temperature Of air and water the SWIM
mer should inquire the temperature az the
water before plunging in. About 90 or IS de-
grees Is too cold for swimming any length Of
time. Around 70 is the ideal temperature. The
time Of the day doesn't make much difference.
One time Is as good as another. curious thing
about bathing hours which I have noticed Is
most popular time for dip was between 1850
and l o'clock. Now under the new time the
beach Is crowded most between the hours of
$50 and 5. This is three hours later than the
old time and I haven't yet heard logical
theory to account for the difference.
"Of course when I say the time Of the day
doesn't matter it should be understood that no
once should attempt to swim Immediately after
q full meal. The body Is engaged IN digesting
the meal at that time and violent exercise is
apt to result disastrously. The swimmer should
allow an hour to an hour and half for his
repast to digest before going in the water.
I'D AIRING heart condition swimming can
- be INDUCED In at virtually any age. One
thing Of which do not approve, however, is
the entering of children in competitive meets
too early In life. We often see youngsters 49,
IA or IS years old in swimming meets The
speed and stamina required In competition at
such age are likely to take toll later on their
health. They will be burned out before they
ard hardly grown.
rBut no sport Is equal to swimming n in
dulged in according to the age and condition of
each individual. Like everything else, 1t must
be gradually taken more moderately as we grow
older. Like eating. for instance. A vast ma
jority of the ills of adults is due to overeating,
to lack of moderation at the dinner table. No
matter what stroke the swimmer uses-crawI,
American or Australian, trudgeon, breaststroke
or even doggie-he should gradually take it
easier as the body grows older.
Above all, avoid overexertion at the beginning
OF the season when the muscles feel strong and
springy; especially If you have been away from
the water during the Winter, take care to build
up your pace gradually. In this way you con-