ROYAL LIFE-SAVING SOCIETY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14915, 10 February 1909, Page 5

ROYAL LIFE-SAVING SOCIETY.

SOME INTERESTING WORK. A movement is on foot in Christchurch to establish a branch of the Royal Life Saving Society of Great Britain, a society which desires first of all to promote technical education in life-saving and the resuscitation of tho apparently drowned, and to stimulate public opinion in favour of the general adoption of swimming and life-saving as a branch of instruction in schools. The society is not in any way connected with the Royal Humane Society, and is of much more recent origin, haling been established in 1891. It specialises, however, in the art of sawing life in water, and in tnis direction has already done invaluable work. The society has.branches in Australia, and it is understood that at one time an endeavour was made to start a. branch in New Zealand. The immediate cause of the resuscitation of the idea of New Zealand branches is the visit to the dominion of Mr E. M. S. Pilkington, the honorary treasurer of the society. From a conversation with Mr Pilkiugton, it appears that the work of the society is not only of considerable interest, but that it is in the direction that many swimming chibs and those interested in swimming desire. The society’s chief work throughout has been that of teaching persons how to render first aid to those in danger of drowning, and the number of awards made by the society last year for proficiency in the society’s methods was 71G9. It has also been proved that a great number of those who obtained the awards have during the year been instrumental in saving life from drowning, for which they have been rewarded | by the Royal Humane Society. The methods recommended by the society in the case of rescue and relief are the result of very close study of the subject by practical swimmers, and they are set out clearly in the handbook of instruction, together with diagrams, so that they may he taught or learned by anybody fairly well acquainted with the natatorial art. The rescue methods are designed for all possible cases, and tho methods by which the rescuer is taught to release himself from the clutch of a drowning person are scientific and sure. The method of resuscitation is an important part of the work of the society, which also teaches swimming on the back, a very important accomplishment' for life-saving, diving from the surface, floating, plunging and diving, and everything that is necessary for the saving of life. To render the work interesting tha instruction takes the : form of land drill, as well as practice in the water.

Mr Pilkiugton has brought the matter of forming branches in New Zealand before the' Council of tho New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, and several prominent swimmers have taken the matter up. Tt will be mentioned at the championship meeting at Timaru on Thursday and Friday, and some action will undoubtedly be then taken. As a matter of fact, a number of swimmers in Christchurch have already fitted themselves for examination for tho society’s certificates, and they had hoped that Mr Pilkiugton might be able to examine them. Mr Pilkiugton, however, has left Christchurch for the North Island, although it is probable that he will return south.