POLICE AND LIFE SAVING

Evening Star, Issue 22797, 4 November 1937, Page 18

POLICE AND LIFE SAVING

COMPULSORY SWIMMING STANDARD SUGGESTED CHIEF THINKS FIRST AID EFFICIENCY MORE IMPORTANT [Peis United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, November 3. The New Zealand members of the Royal Life Saving Society in conference in Wellington recently expressed the opinion that in view of the alarming number of drownings all policemen should be qualified life-savers, and it was decided to approach the Minister of Justice with the request that all police force trainees should bo required to qualify for the society’s bronze medallion or its equivalent. Interviewed to-day, tbo Commissioner of Police (Mr J. Cummings) said tlmt while ho was strongly in favour of as many as possible of both the police and other people knowing how to swim and save life, it would be interesting to know what proportion of drownings could have heen avoided by training police in life-saving. He added that in these days a knowledge of first aid was probably of greater value. “ Even_ if our men were trained up to the hilt it is questionable in. how many cases they could be of assistance,” he. said. “It is a question of being on the ! spot, and I very much doubt whether there is a police constable present in the majority of cases. Usually the first the jiolico hear of a drowning is when they are called upon to drag for the body.” When, drownings occurred on the beaches there were usually surf club life-savers there to render assistance if possible, the Commissioner continued, Ho believed in some cases f hat polite officers wore members of such clubs. Swimming and life-saving were not compulsory in the force, but he was strongly in favour of constables being adept in the water. Trainees were encouraged to take an active interest in sport, and swimming was, of course, an important aspect. It would be a fine thing, the Commissioner said, if, as far as practicable, all school children could be taught to swim so that as many people as nossible would be able to Took after them selves iu the water. “ Another subject which seems to me to be even more important than lifesaving is first aid,” said the Commissioner. “ The number of accidents these days which call for skilled attention greatly outweigh the drownings. Of course, every constable has to have his St. John Ambulance certificate of first aid proficiency.” Mr Cummings added that he had known cases where accident victims had bled to death because nobody present bad a simple knowledge of how to apply a tourniquet and stop tne bleeding. In times when accidents were of such frequent occurrence, a knowledge of first aid was a valuable asset.