Bay Of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21, 1949 DROWNING DANGER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 79, 21 December 1949, Page 4

Bay Of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21, 1949

DROWNING DANGER

Already this summer there have been a number of drownings in the country and this bad start does not bode well for the remainder of the swimming season. Every year drownings take their toll of New Zealapd life and in many cases fatalities could have been avoided with a bit of extra care.

Last year 82 people lost their lives through accidental drowning, 39 per cent of whom were 30 years and over. While this in itself is a tragedy the worst feature is that 90 per cent of these deaths could have been prevented. Of last year’s figures 21 people were drowned in rivers and 19 in open seas, 11 in creeks, lagoons and lakes, ten from boats or other crafts, nine in harbours, seven in open drains and sumps, and five in ways unspecified in the official statistics.

From these figures it is obvious that most of the drownings appear to have taken place at popular bathing resorts. Once again the swimmer, no matter how versatile he may be in the water, should be warned of the need for every care while bathing. If on beaches patrolled by a surf patrol the bather must keep inside the safetv zones and swim with the crowd. Should bathers get into difficulties outside the safety area and away from the crowd it is possible that they may not be seen and Will not be missed until too late.

Every open sea beach is dangerous for swimming, no matter what its reputation. For this reason every care should be taken, and the same applies to rivers, sumps and open drains. These can be death traps. A perusal of the death notices will bear this out.

Drownings of persons who have been tipped out of boats

are not infrequent. Those who go sailing when they have no idea how to swim run a great risk of meeting death. It is for this reason that rowing clubs and some yachting clubs insist that their crews know how to swim before they take to the water.

There will be drownings again this year but the figures can be cut down if more care is taken by everybody when bathing. A few hours learning to swim in some safe spot every week would lower the total even further.

This year a campaign is being carried out by various Government Departments and swimming and life-saving associations impressing on the public the need for extra care when swimming, surfing or boating.