DO'S AND DONT'S FOR SEABATHERS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3138, 9 October 1922, Page 8

DO'S AND DONT'S FOR SEABATHERS.

(By "llarley Street.") A sea bathe is the greatest tonic in the world. But like every other good thing ii can he abused. And then benefit is ehiTiiged to disaster. By far the most common mistake is lo go into the water soon alter a meal. Fven id a swimming hath that can he dangerous, as the death of a boy of ten tit Liverpool recently proved. He was swimming in shallow water, yet he sank and was drowned before help could reach him. In the sea tho danger is greater, because Ihe water is colder. Cold drives tlni blood from the skin, whereas food drives it to the skin instance the iliishing which occurs during a full meal. The clash of those two mechanisms, both of which depend on the circulation, may induce heart .failure. Another great error if- going into the water when one is hot. Here, again. Ihe skin is Hushed and lull of blood. The -hook, when so much blood is suddenly driven back towards the heart, is occasionally fatal. Nor is coming out of the water less ti matter for care than going in. Our bodies are so made thai Ihcy can stand ti certain amount of chilling and bene- !':(. from it. But chill them beyond thai. point and t hoy suffer. That is v here the bather who lingers in the water I ill he is shivering makes ti fatal mistake. He is lowering his bodily resistance below the danger point. Did lie but reflect that the human body has countless enemies, myriads of tiny germs, lying always in wait for iis weak moment?, lie would ael nmro wisely. So lone; as we are lii and comfortable, these germs, swarming in our mouths and air passages, are harmless. But let unfitness put oven a foot on the threshold and trouble is apt to begin. Many a mysterious chill, even some attacks of pneumonia, coming <m at. Ihe seaside, can be I raced back to a i»'ithe unduly prolonged until shivering had taken place. The ideal bathe ends ill a glow, like tho ideal morning dip at home, II you don't exercise Ibis glow, cither you have staved in 100 long or you are not quite Hi. In the latter rase i| is wise not. lo bathe at all. But Ihe "Jew can he made lllol'C e<>m dele and so more efl'ecl ive b.\ a lit ilo iri-k exercise before or just after dresv ng. It i- a good rule, where the condiioiis tilluw of it. |n run along tho and-, aiyl t hen rub down wilh ih • lardesf towel obtainable. Alter dressing a sandwich is a weltinie and excellent addition to the onic effect. It, helps lo keep Ihe skin lushed, and so to prolong (he sense of * arml It :>\u\ well-being. Nearly al! the eases of "eranip" and he disasters which arc so sad a feature ! the holiday season can he traced to icglecf of one or other of these simple nifs. Some people never seem to learn antiou; or they take a pleasure in soring it. at defiance. The tragic result. onie.tiines. is that other lives are lost n brave attempts to rescue them from he eoiisctjucnecs of their folly.