Life-Saving NOTABLE YEAR

Press, Volume C, Issue 29643, 13 October 1961, Page 15

Life-Saving NOTABLE YEAR

Association’s Report

The 1960-61 surf life-sav-ing season in Canterbury was notable for the introduction of the expired air method of artificial respiration into competition rules; an exchange of views on drill with the most successful Australian team; and a start towards overcoming the drowning problem by placing portable reels on the unpatrolled North Canterbury beaches, says the annual report of the Canterbury Surf Life-saving Association. The report will be presented to the association's annual meeting next Thursday. The adoption of the expired air method of artificial respiration brought a revolutionary change in rescue and competition work. Much instructional work had to be given to members and public alike with the introduction and in this respect the association’s chief instructor, J. A. Lee, and the individual club instructors had achieved much. At the beginning of the season three portable reels were placed at Spencer Park, Woodend and Wairaki for emergency use. The association is watching the position of swimmers at these beaches and is maintaining the reels. On Canterbury beaches last summer rescues numbered 14, compared with 19 the previous year, the report says. Although the summer was not a particularly good one, the number of swimmers on the beaches did hot decrease. “It has been noticeable, however, that the public is more aw-are of patrol areas on our beaches and it is possible that the widespread advertising of water safety throughout the country during the last few years is really becoming effective. We also hope that the surf clubs have contributed by their endeavours to educate the public into water-wise bathing and so helped this decrease.” Normal surf patrols were maintained by the six Canterbury clubs, with the addition of paid patrols during the six weeks of the Christmas school holidays. On the competitive front, Canterbury enjoyed a season of success. It retained the premier trophy In surfing —the Norrie Trophy—for the fifth year in succession at the national meeting at Warrington Beach (Otago). Christchurch clubs won 16 national titles at the meeting.