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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 9, Issue 11 (February 1, 1935)

This Swimming

This Swimming.

Each summer the daily papers record deaths by drowning—the terrible toll of our beaches and rivers and lakes. Despite the activities of Life-Saving Clubs and the teaching of swimming in some of our schools, the disasters continue. It is time that a Dominion-wide campaign was instituted, “Safer Beaches” and “Every Bather a Swimmer” to be the watchwords.

Successful campaigns are carried on to lessen the accident percentage on the roads. The automobile clubs have done valuable work in this direction. The daily papers and periodicals, in their motoring columns, have endeavoured to inculcate “road sense.” Let us apply the lesson to swimming.

A few of the more popular beaches are marked off in “safety zones.” This has certainly lessened drowning risk, yet fatalities still occur as a result of foolhardy swimmers ignoring warning signs.

A study of drowning statistics reveals three fatality groups. First we find the case of the person who cannot swim and who, finding himself out of his depth, becomes panic-stricken. Then we find the reckless individual, usually in the late teens, or early twenties, who confidently swims out beyond the breakers or into a current the strength of which he does not realise. The third type is that of a good swimmer who, in order to save a novice or a dare-devil, has to risk his own life; very often the brave perishes with the foolhardy.

Whether one delights in boating, fishing, bathing, or all three, it is essential to be able to swim. All parents should endeavour to teach their children swimming at an early age. Even tinies love splashing about at the edge of the waves or in a paddling pool. Once fear of the water is overcome, the rest is easy. Quite small children can be taught to float, first of all on their backs. Encourage children to press their heads well back in the water, in order to attain correct balance. Once they have grown accustomed to letting the water carry them, they will be ready to try floating on their fronts, arms stretched forward and face under water for the duration of a deep breath. This last manoeuvre paves the way for real swimming. The best stroke to teach first is breast stroke, as it is easy, the head is fairly clear of the water, and the stroke does not tire one. Once the breast-stroke is mastered, the learner is ready for overarm, the six beat crawl and various backstrokes.

Having learned to swim, and taken to heart the elementary rules of self-preservation in the water, it is advisable to attend a Life-Saving Class, where land and water drill and resuscitation methods are practised.

page 43

Even good swimmers, sometimes, need to be reminded of safety rules:—

1.

Do not enter the water until 1 1/2 to 2 hours after a meal.

2.

Do not swim where danger from undertow or treacherous currents is likely, remembering that the rescuer will be in as much danger as the swimmer.

3.

When diving, know the depth. Guessing may lead to a fractured spine.

4.

Never swim alone. Where swimming is concerned, there is safety in numbers.

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