SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 342, 31 October 1908, Page 9

SWIMMING.

(By Splash.)

The whole of the local clubs have now held their annual meetings, tho last to get under way being the old-established Wellington Club. The gathering was a small, one on account of the bad weather. .Practically tho whole of last year's office-bearers were reelected. Mr. G. S. Hill, who presided, congratulated tho club on tho satisfactory position disclosed by the report and balancesheet, and made special reference to the time dovotcd by- Mr. T. Shields to teachiug boys tho art of swimming. Mr. Shields, in replying, mentioned that ho had not given as much time to this branch of tho sport last season as he had done before, and paid a tribute to Mr. Fanning (one of the masters at the Clyde Quay School) for the work ho had done on behalf of the boys of that school, which school, ho might say, had turned out. some excellent swimmers.

It mis ; stated at tho annual meeting of the Wellington Club that the local centre intends-to apply for the N.,\v Zealand championships this season. It was suggested that if the championships were granted to "Wellington a couple of races for Masterton swimmers should bo placed on the programme. So small was the attendance at the annual meeting of the above club that the three pressmen present ha.d to bo olected members .for the purpose of passing a special resolution. The only young member present at tho meeting was H. Ashford. The others were veterans who havo stood by the for manv seasons, i.e., A. A. Somerville, T. Shields, G. S. Hill, R. Evenso'n; P. Wilton, H. C. Blick) and the Anderson duo, The younger members are apparently prepared to take the snort that is provided for .them without shouldering a share of tho worries of management. . The expense entailed in running carnivals has led to a. suggestion being thrown out that the three Te Aro clubs should combine and hold one big joint carnival. There is a .g&pcLdeal to. be said for tho idea, but something can also be said agaiiist.it.. Whilst the expenses would be kept down, a.nd the prizes . made more valuable,, and the day's sport would probably be of a higher standard, the immediate followers of the clubs would not have the. same interest in the gathering, and • tho total attendance would not bo as large as the total 'attendance at the three separate ; carnivals. • However, the proposal has to be threshed out-fully by the clubs concorned before any change is decided on. One thing is certain, and that is that in the past , carnivals have been left until too late'in the season, and havo consequently all come on in a bunch:

The Auckland centre is doing its utmost to encourage young swimmers to acquire the art of restoring animation to the apparently drowned. The various affiliated clubs intend forming at an early date squads to workon the principles laid down by tho Royal Humane Society, with which the centre has been in communication for some time.

i There is every possibility that, the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Championships meeting will be held in Auckland this season, says the "Star." It was stated at the annual meeting of the Auckland centre that had application been made last year. the championships would have''been allotted to Auckland. _ The secretary said that he had already written the Now Zealand Association with regard to the forthcoming championships'being held in Auckland, and the meeting . decided to keep the matter before the governing body.

RESCUSITATING THE DROWNED. '':! NEW' METHOD. •Mr. .Wm. Henry, chief 'secretary of the Royal Life' Saving Society, writes as follows to the "Sportsman" on the new method of ■, restoring . the _. apparently ''drowned: — Owing to the holiday season, tbo warm weathor, and the pleasure of boating and bathing,' a great ma,ny accidents have : occurred around our coasts and in the inland waters, I venture to suggest that a great proportion of those accidents ; might have been prevented had the art'of swimming and lifo saying been more genorally practised. A littlo training not only : helps one ' to enjoy a bathe, but also provides greater security against accident. Many peoplo when oir holiday frequently indulge in bathing ; |they seem to consider that their holiday is. not complete without it—this is the bather who runfc the greatest risk. If one were to inquire one would find that the majority of those drowned during July, August, and September were peoplo seeking pleasure. Such folk can, perhaps, swim a little, so ■they venturo out of their depth, to find that they quickly get exhausted, as their muscles have not the needed practico to withstand the extra exertion put upon them. Finding that they are getting tired, they become terrified, try •to scream for help, and, in doing so, oxpel the air from the lungs and swallow water. Insensibility soon occurs, and they disappear, never, perhaps, to rise again unless brought to the gurfaco by a rescuer. J ; ■ /

f. The general belief that a drowning person must rise three times beforejjio finally sinks, is a fallacy. Whether he'-Tikes at all or how often he does so. entirely depends upon the accidental method of his struggling. Ho may .happen to struggle in such a way that his actions may keep him bobbing up to the surface, or, on the other hand, his struggles may taken him _ quickly towards the.bottom. As these accidents mostly occur close'in shore, and the person is soon brought to land, a few words of advice as to treatment may bo of interest to many, who, although unable to swim, may yet be of service in saving a life by applying promptly\and efficiently the correct method of restoring animation by the introduction of fresh air to tho lungs, as directed in the handbook of the Royal Life Saving Society. The new method of restoring the apparently dead, either from drowning, suffocation, or electrical shock, devised by Professor Schafer, of Edinburgh University, is extremely simple and'easy to learn; it is .conducted as follows:—

1. Immediately a person is lifted out of the water lose no time in attempting artificial respiration, as every instant of delay is serious. ■

2. If breathing'has-oeased place the patient face downwards and .turn tho face either to the right" or left,' _so that the mouth and nose do not touch the ground. 3. Place yourself at the side of the patient, in a kneeling position, facing his head with your, hands flat ill the sir all of his back, the thumbs nearly touching aud the fingers spread out on each side of the body over the lowest ribs.

4. Lean forward over the patient and steadily produce a firm downward pressure, which must not be violent. Next release all pressure by swinging backward without lifting the hands from the body. 5. Repeat this pressure and relaxation of pressure every four or five seconds without any marked pause between the movements, until natural respiration is resumed. Note. —When tho downward pressure is applied the foul air in tho lungs Js pressed out, and immediately pressure is ■ released fresh air takes its place. 11l this way an exchange of air is effected in the lungs by artificial means similar to tho way in which we breathe naturally.

- 6. When natural breathing is established, cease the pressure and non-pressure movements, turn the patient face upwards and immediately promote w r arinth by friction over the surface of tho body. As soon as possible remove tho patient to the nearest house, put. him to hod, and apply heated flannels, water bottles, etc., to various parts of tho body. Seo that the room is well ventilated and prevoht persons crowding round. In al 1 cases send for medical assistance as soon as possible.

If these simple instructions are observed many of those who seem dead when lifted out of the water may be revived, and if these few words of; advico are noted they may be of assistance to those present at an accident and enable them to give timely help.

In conclusion, may I express the hope that the art of swimming, the best method of rendering aid to-the drowning and struggling person in the water, how to free onself if clutched, aiid how to restore the apparently drowned, should be taught in every school. Wo. have the system .• of_ instruction ; all, therefore, that is needed is a general desire oil the part of the scholastic authorities to impart the knowledge, and so diminish the annual loss of between 2000 and 3000 lives by drowning in this country.