Evening star., 1938-09-25
By John Jay DAILY.

girls-and oldsters, too-have
i hung up their bathing suits un-
til next summer, the local Red
Cross merely moves the swim season
indoors.
To make every Washingtonian a
swimmer, and every swimmer life
saver, the District of Columbia Chap
ter of the Red Cross, under the lead
ership of Gordon Stone, director OF
first aid and life-saving, prepares for
the winter season. Thousands will
be added to the young army Of more
than 10000 swimmers who received
instruction this summer.
With his assistant, r. H. Duncan,
Director Stone this week presented a
cross-section of the Red Cross water
safety program, having set up life
saving and flrst-aid units on Hains
Point, ready for emergency service
during the Presidents Cup Regatta.
While regatta week brings out the
best talent enrolled in these Red Cross
volunteer services, there is actually
more to this set-up than meets the
eye.
In the last year, for instance, emer-
gency units were on duty at the Army
Day parade, Easter egg rolling at the
White House, high school competitive
drill, Soap Box Derby, Water Gate
concerts, horse shows and athletic
events, Community Center circus,
Fourth of July and other civic cele-
brations where large crowds gathered
and accidents were likely. These oc-
casions test the ingenuity of Red Cross
details. Often they must add to their
other duties the job of returning lost
children to parents.
Complete field hospital units are now
being established along the Presidents
,Cup Regatta course, to be manned by
first aid details from the local Red
Cross chapter.
Life savers will be stationed with
the Coast Guard to aid in rescue work
First aid units will work with physi-
clans of the Public Health Service
under DR.. Paul D. Mossman, while Red
Cross ambulances stand by at every
first aid station.
RACK of this routine volunteer serv-
ice is highly developed program
Of training. 1t begins with the non
swimmer and carries on through ad-
panced first aid and life-saving work
This summer alone the Red Cross gave
five lessons in the rudiments of SWIM
ming to each of 1928 non n-swimmers,
bringing the total for the year to l0, ,480
more than were taught in the entire
,year Of 1887. Most of this instruction
was provided at the public swimming
pools, where 36 Red Cross-trained
teachers were on duty.
Life-saving classes this year re-
suited in $3.50 persons passing begin
ners' swimming tests; 1871 qualifying
as swimmers; 405 as Junior Red
Cross Life Savers; 355 as Senior Life
Savers, and 81 as examiners-a sub
stantial increase over last year. First
aid classes trained more than 200
.police, firemen and agents of the Fede-
raj Bureau of Investigation in practi-
cal treatment of every day accidents
and in education toward mishap pre-
vention.
Members of the Life Saving Service
enrolled from these classes encourage
and assist others in learning to swim,
advocate and practice sane regulations
and methods for swimming and boat
ing; install proper safeguards; mark
danger spots with warning signals, and
serve as volunteer life guards at un-
guarded beaches.
zach was trained by, and each
participates in four-point pro-
gram of education and service. All are
volunteers. For future volunteers, and
Just plain citizens-young and old-the
Red Cross has developed this year
round program:
/. Swimming instruction given to
beginners and advanced groups OF
school children, college students, Boy
and Girl Scouts, club members, en-
ployes' groups, and even mothers who
were enrolled in special courses during
the season just closed. These classes
are held throughout the year in the
playground pools. at the Y. M. c. A. and
other indoor pools. Special instruc-
ton for schools is scheduled at the
7Shoreham Hotel and high school pools
shortly after classes are resumed. The
summer outdoor program is carried or
through cooperation with District
Fairgrounds and the Welfare and
Recreational Association. Instructors
trained in Red Cross methods are
stationed at every pool.
2. Life-saving courses for both jun
iors and seniors are conducted through
out the year in much the same manner
This instruction encompasses not only
hfe-saving technique, but is broad
ened to include accident prevention
and general water safety information
With the enlargement and improve
ment OF water recreational facilitie.
IN recent years, accompanied by the
growing popularity of boating and
other water sports, the Red Cross has
inaugurated education in the proper
use Of pleasure craft. and has contin-