Drowning.

This disagreeable subject I would gladly leave to more able pens than mine, were it not that any book for the guidance of swimmers would be worthless without it. The views here set forth do not profess altogether to be original, but they are in a measure verified by experience of which the writer, during a period of some years at sea, has had enough. It is of the greatest importance that the subject should be studied, as experience teaches the writer that persons of all ages will risk their lives for those in distress without a moment's thought for the consequences. To commence then it is too generally believed that a man must be a very expert swimmer before he ventures to rescue another, especially if the one in distress has his clothes on; but as to the latter, the reverse is the case, and as regards the former the writer ventures to assert that as many lives re saved by ordinary as by expert swimmers. Let me earnestly page 7 impress upon the would-be rescuer the utmost necessity of calmness and caution. If you have anything with you that the person in danger can hold, cautiously give him one end of it, telling him to be calm, and to throw himself on his back, and to take hold of it, with his arms extended beyond his head, and to keep his mouth shut. If necessary, however, to approach him, warn him before doing so to keep his hands well under water, which if he does, cautiously approach him, and if he has his clothes on, seize him firmly by the back of the arm, between the elbow and shoulder. When this grip is properly taken it is scarcely possible for the one held to touch the other; then swimming on the side to the nearest place of safety, or quietly rest if assistance is coming. If the one in distress is without his clothes, with the greatest caution approach him and place one hand under the arm-pits, and swimming on the side, push him obliquely upward and forward; persuade him to help you as much as possible. If he should attempt to seize you (as he very likely will), withdraw at once your support, and watch a more favourable opportunity to renew it. Never allow yourself under any circumstances to be taken hold of. A method commonly recommended if the man is struggling at the surface is to get behind him and seize him by the back of the hair, pushing him in the centre of the back with the foot and pulling him with the hand that grasps the hair, thus turning him on his back, and tow him in that position. For myself, however, I fail to see, his arms being free, what is to prevent his seizing you, which of all things you wish, most to avoid. If he is insensible, of course the case is altered; in the present case the man must be warned to keep his arms low. It is of course more difficult to rescue a man who has sunk than one who is struggling on the surface. As he has first to be found—and here it is necessary to know that his rising three times is not certain, as is generally supposed, although it may happen—it is however, as well to wait for his rising before diving for him, and when diving it is of the greatest importance to keep one hand continually before the head, to prevent the possibility of it being seized. page 8 Should this be the case it is almost impossible, I believe, to give any practical advice which would be likely to be followed at so critical a moment, beyond that the rescuer should endeavour to wait until, by exhaustion, the drowning man is compelled to withdraw his hold, when it might be possible to drag him by the hair to the surface. Should the rescuer be seized when both parties' heads are above water, he should at once order the other to let go his hold, which, if not instantly done, the swimmer should immediately force the other's head beneath the water, and keep it there until exhaustion compels the drowning man to relinquish his hold. To rescue a woman or child is of course comparatively an easy matter. In the former case her hair should be used as a tow rope. Two swimmers can, with comparative ease, render assistance to a drowning man by facing him one on each side, and supporting him under the armpits. After having got hold of your man it is well to exert yourself as little as possible, should assistance be forthcoming; and if at sea a life-buoy will probably have been dropped near you, when you must use your judgment whether first to get hold of it, and make with it to your man, or to bring him to it, waiting for the assistance which is sure to come if you can be found. The writer knows by experience how difficult it is to see a man from a boat in the open sea; therefore, make as much noise as possible.