ADVICE FOR SURFERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2687, 5 February 1916, Page 15

ADVICE FOR SURFERS

HOW TO DRESS-HOW TO ACT.

Most of the accidents, and all of the ill-effects which sometimes follow a season of bathing or swimming, result from a failure to apply common sense to the ■sport. Here are some guiding cautions:— Don't use a bathing suit which is more stylish than comfortable. Tights or woollen knee trousers, are better than h&ggy bloomers, because Holding less water and leaving the legs freer. Don't enter the water an inch, at a time, if it .js cool. If a poil or river, jump or dive in so as to get wet all over at once. But don't jump or dive into deep, water unless you know its temperature. Unexpected cold sometimes paralyses.

Don't- swim or bathe when tired, or for a longer time'.than the body is comfort\ibly warm.'- It lowers the-vitality. Don t-let anyone entice you to do what you are afraid to do, whether it be a dive, a. long, swim/ or a contest with heavy surf. i?ear of the water is natural; conquer it by degrees and quietly, never by the "sink or -swim" niotnod.

; Dont fight the .undertow. If it catches you and sweeps you off youi feet, let it have its will: with you. Tho next roller Will ; stop' that undertow, and you can rega'n.your feet. A-heavy undertow is dangerous only, when you lose your head. xjon't try. to .swim • out beyond your safety line- because some other girl does. Tour safety line is half the distance you can si*im easily from shore. Don't swim in a heavy surf with the tide going out. • Don't dive into any water you do not Personally know is deep enough.' Try it by letting, down in the water to see where the bottom is. A dive into shallow water which; is supposed to .be deep enough may easily break your neck, and you have vnly one. Don't get panic-stricken and think, if you have a cramp, that you are as, good as drowned. Camp is a painful muscular contraction. It may disable a leg or arm, but it is not dangerous. Swim witll the legs and arms you have left,'call for help, and keep your head.. Don t light the persons who . come to your rescue, llelax. Keep your head down. ■ iou don t breathe with your chin nor the back of your neck. Keep your nose out, do as you are told, and never, never seize the -rescuer about head or shoulders.

Don t iail to rub down- briskly with a rough towel when through. Don't lie wet on the sand on a cool day. i?un briskly up and down the beach before and after a <lip, if the water or air is cold '• -.