SAFETY ON THE BEACHES.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 January 1932, Page 6

SAFETY ON THE BEACHES.

New Plymouth last year had a very successful “learn to swim” week, for it not only enabled a large number of children and some older people to acquire a measure of proficiency in a most useful art but it also stimulated widespread interest in the sport of swimming and the more serious development ot life-saving. Knowledge of swimming is, of course, valuable to every individual who obtains it, for it is the key to healthy and invigorating exercise; but it has another value as a safeguard of life. Everyone who can swim well is the potential saviour of his neighbour; the better his swimming and the greater his knowledge of the technique which has been found most efficacious in rescue work the more able he is to safeguard a weaker companion. Wherever a community possesses, such beaches as New Plymouth has and enjoys such warm summer days there is need of ample safeguards, and it is gratifying to know that they are increasingly available. It is even more gratifying to learn that children are not less eager than adults to become efficient in those practices which at any time may mean all the difference between life and death, and that in this particular community there are young people of quite tender years who are keen to become thoroughly accomplished in the art of saving lifeTo the West End school has fallen the honour of producing what is believed to be the youngest team of life-savers in the world, seven boys whose average age is only eleven years having been banded together for this purpose. They have been fortunate in obtaining the services of a highly qualified coach, Mr. L. Petty, and it was made evident when they gave displays last week that the boys have been exceedingly well trained and have entered into their . work with fine spirit. Mr. Petty is himself so great an enthusiast that he hopes to form and teach teams of life-savers at other schools, and if he is successful New Plymouth will have reason to be very grateful to him. Wherever the sea breaks on open beaches bathers are irresistibly attracted to it, and the element of risk is inseparable from bathing. Within the past few days one young life has been lost at New Plymouth, and in another case a rescue was effected in the face of grave difficulties. Perhaps the time has come for something in the way of organised effort to control the use of the beaches r or at least to give bathers adequate warning of possible dangers. That is a matter worthy of consideration. Meariwhile it is ground for satisfaction that the number of capable swimmers and of those who are expert in rescue work is increasing, for every trained life-saver is an asset of value to the community.