TOLL OF DROWNING

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 79, Issue 7147, 19 December 1949, Page 7

TOLL OF DROWNING

ALARMING PROPORTIONS REACHED ' WARNING BY OFFICIAL HEALTH MAGAZINE The editorial printed below is taken from “Health”, an official publication of the Department of Health:—. Deaths through drowning have reached such alarming proportions in this country that a special effort is being made this summer to warn people about water hazards and to impress on them the need for constant caution. A special committee, representative of various Government Departments and the swimming and life-saving associations, has just authorised the release of some eyecatching propaganda that will bring home to the public the need to be on the constant look-out for risks associated with swimming, surfing and beating. Not all the danger lies at the beach and in the open sea. Rivers cart be death traps, and so can open sumps ■and drains. The campaign hopes to nake people acutely aware that they can’t take risks with water, and that carelessness and thoughtlessness can turn a summer holiday into a tragedy. Last year 82 people lost their lives through accidental drowning. And this is how they lost them: — In rivers, 21; open seas, 19; creeks, lagoons and lakes, 11; from boats, launches, canoes, etc., 10; in harbours, nine; open drains and sumps, seven; not clear, five. Adults, 30 years and over, accounted for 39 per cent, of the total (32); adults, 20 to 30 years, for 16 per cent. (13); adolescents, 15 to 20 years, for 12 per cent. (10); and children up to 15 years, 33 per cent. (27). The pity of it is that 90 per cent, of these deaths could have been prevented. An appeal is made to the community to co-operate in the anti-drowning campaign, to take notice of the warnings and advice that will be given over the next few months, and to act accordingly. Always remember it MAY happen to you or some members of your family, through want of a little care and commonsense. Watch Out For Hazards This Summer The following article is also taken from the same journal:— Frequent short dips are definitely better than long periods in the water. Many folk in for a swim spend all their time in the deeper water, but it’s really better to spend part of the time shore-bathing, letting the waves splash and buffet the body so that you get mechanical massage from water and air. The heroes out in the deep water aren’t getting the tonic enjoyed by the shallow water dippers, so don’t feel inferior if you stick to the shore.