Reading for Everybody.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2185, 14 September 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

Reading for Everybody.

LIFE SAVING AND SWIMMING HINTS.

PRACTICAL ADVICE BY A FAMOUS ATHLETE. MONTAGUE A. HOLBEIN’S OPINIONS.

[For upwards ol twontv-livo years Mr. Holbein lias created walking* cycling, and swimming records every year with unfailing regularity; while his persistent swims across the English Channel from Dover to Calais, more than twenty-one miles, proclaim him, at forty-four years of age, one of the greatest "stayers” of his time. —Ed.]

I don’t know why I should state that every man and woman, hoy anil girl should know how to swim, and save life in the water besides. The thing is so obvious. Aod vet, what a strange state of affairs we see. Every year we see thousands of people lose their lives bathing in the sea or rowing or sailing in small boats on lake or river. And even winter brings its tragic tale of drowning because of skaters slipping through

the iee. ■I have no hesitation in saying that nearly all these sad events might be prevented if the elementary instruction in swimming and life-saving wore made compulsory in the public schools. And in the Old World at any rate a new era is dawning in this matter — especially in Loudon, where the \aiious school swimming associations with hundreds of thousands of adherents are teaching first of all ‘‘dry-land” swimming in the playgrounds, and then practical instruction in specially erected swimming baths under competent instructors engaged by the schools authorities.

And quite apart from the question of saving one’s own life or that of another, swimming opens itp a new and pleasurable exercise, as well as quenching forever the dread of deep water which seems to he on the hiavcst of us who cannot swim.

And as to those who can, I never could understand their utter exhaustion after going a few hundred yards until I investigated the questions of balance and breathing adopted by so many novices. You see in the event of a boat upsetting a good way out from land, it avails the swimmer little if he can only negotiate half the distance before he becomes exhausted. I remember a press mail in the tug following me- on my last swim across the English Channel, calling out ; “Why do you carry your head so low, Holbein?”

“I don’t carry my liead,”l replied; “I let the water do that.” The whole situation is here summed up. Watch the long-distance swimmer and you- will find that uis mouth is well below the water at the beginning of each stroke, when the air is expelled, and a fresh breath taken as the stroke raises the mouth al>ove the surface. In other words, the correct time to breath is when the arms are fully extended for the stroke.

The swimmer who breathes ‘•anyhow” will never go far however powerful he be, as the strain of maintaining and propelling hiin’self is too great, if his body is incorrectly balanced. The fact is swimming should not be a fatjguing exercise ; certainly the strain should be as nothing comr pared with that of rilling a bicycle up a stiffish hill.

Personalis’ I have no great opinion of the sea-bathing idler who steps gingerly out of liis tent, wades out up to his middle, bobs for a few minutes, and tjien goes miserably back with the secret conviction that seabathing is a delusion and a snare. All who have mailo the experiment agree that the most delightful anil beneficial of sea baths is obtained from a boat pulled half a mile or more from shore. No swimmer should miss the delicious shock of the first dive—which by the way should never he over the side but over the stern ; the former is a dangerous as well as incorrect method. And to re-enter tlie boat tho experienced swimmer swims partly up to the stern and then leaps up and climbs in. You should never attempt to clamber over the side or hows, since the former will bring about an upset surely, while the latter is extremes awkward, even if you do succeed. Having plunged from tlie stern and received a sensation so exhilarating that is must ho experienced rather than described, the swimmer will do well to practice a few useful waterfeats as a variation from merely swimming until he grows tired. There is little excuse for swallowing water even with a fast stroke; this is merely a matter of correct breathing. I would also recommend a life-buoy in tho water. It affords great fun to a party of robust young swimmers anil may one ilny prove useful in some grave catastrophe far out to sea. To a person ignorant of the correct way of geting into a buoy, this lifesaving contrivance is perhaps more dangerous than useful. When it is thrown into the water the temptation is to lilt it over one’s head and shoulders or even to dive through it, with the result that tlie head is merel3’ thrust under water and kept there by tlio buoy’s weight. It is in fact next to impossible to get it over the shoulders, and should 3’ou succeed in getting only partially through, there is grave danger of getting wedged.

I have known an inexperienced swimmer, to whom a buoy was thrown from a yacht, “saved” wrong-end up; his head being submerged and bis lower extremities maintained above the surface. The correct thing is tn grasp the two sides of the buoy with fingers of the hands uppermost, lower yourself right under it, so that the weight submerges your head for a moment. Then you will come up through the centre of it. Draw your arms through, and you will find yourself comfortably supported as long as necosiirv. with your arms resting on the side.

A much neater way to do it in one movement is to put both hands close together on the edge of the buoy nearest to you, and suddenly throw all the weight of the body upon it. This will force one side under water, causing the buoy to capsize and fall clean over bead and shoulders. As records of the sen tell us, lifebuoys often fail us at the critical moment, for they are not forthcoming at all, through criminal negligence. In such an event an oar may ho used as a substitute. Of course there is some little art in saving one’s self by its means, for an oar of average size is certainly not buoyant enough

to support a man, if grasped as the first impulse would direct. 1 here is only one way in which nil oar will support a human being. It must be ridden as a child rides his hobbyhorse. The haft is put between tho logs and the blade allowed to project above the surface in trout ol the swimmer. This leaves him both hands free for propulsion anil balance, and the oar so used will be found an amazingly useful adjunct for a very long distance. Hut. it will objected, these hints are for people who can swim. As lor the mere beginner, 1 would certainly advise him to take his first lesson in open river, lake or sea rather than in a swimming hath, with all kinds ol aids and machinery whose absence is sorely felt at the first really practical lesson alone in open water. Tho best aid is a friend who swims well. Me induces confidence in the learner by voice ami example,- ami also supporting the novice with a baud under his chin while instructing him in the first leg and arm movements. A floating manilla rope fastened to something on shore is also most useful. Xow wade in quietly without hurry and anxiety until you arc waist deep. Stop hero and paddle about until you have confidence. Now face the shore, grip the rope tightly, and bob down, immersing youreslf completely. You will conic up to puff and blow; always remember there is no huriv. Jump up and down a little, anil you will learn how buoyant tho water is and how little effort is required to keep yourself afloat. Move about as much as you please, but don’t release your hold on the rope. In fact, I strongly recommend that the first lesson should be devoted to acquiring complete confidence whilst ininiciseil up to tho chin. I think, too, that floating should be learned before swimming.

You will learn floating in this way; Walk into the water almost up to your shoulders. Then, with your back to the shore bond your knees until tho water is level with your chin. Lay the head well back, keeping tho mouth closed until the water is up to vour cars. Now stretch tho arms slowly behind your head, palms upwards. Inhale a long, deep breath and you will find your legs rising to the surface. Throw your head a little further back still, and you will find that- you are floating. But the moment you exhale you will begin to sink.

Don’t be nervous, but draw in a fresh breath as quickly as you can, when chest and head will instantly rise an inch or so further out of tho water. Confidence is everything; and before you tackle your first real swim-ming-lesson walk into the water shoulder deep and face the shore. Hold out your arms straight in front, palms downwards two or three inches below tho surface. Now throw your head well back, inhale a deep breath, push gently off the ground with your feet, anil bring your arms right round with a steady sweep.

This done, let your feet touch the bottom and you will find yourself a yard or two nearer shore. Repeat this experiment again and again, letting yourself bo carried on by the water as you make this stroke from the standing posture, and you have fought more than half the battle of learning to swim. It only remains to make your legs do their share in propulsion. This they do as you stretch the arms before you and push off. Draw up tlie knees and kick out the legs, opening them as widely as possible. Then bring your heels together with as determined a sweep as 3'ou are capable of, forcing the water out from between them and propelling the body forward. And after one joint arm-sweep and legkick, touch the bottom and recover jour breath, repeating this until you combine effectively both arm and leg action.

As to u ilex pec ted difficulties in the water, cramp must come first—a most 1 unpleasant and serious seizure, yet nothing like so dangerous as is commonly supposed. In my opinion it is loss of presence of mind that causes all the deaths usually attributed to cramp. Should this muscular seizure suddenly affect any part when the shore is handy lose "no time in reaching it—remembering that even should both legs ho disabled you can paddle ashore with your hands. Or if both arms aro seized, you have only to lie on 3’our back and get to the shore by striking with your legs. But should assistance bo absent and the shore far off, different tactics must be adopted. First of all keep your presence of mind. If cramp is felt in the calf of the leg just below the kiipe—the most frequent place—turn on your back at once ; bend the toes upward; kick out the affected foot in tlio air; ignore the jiain, paddling with one hand and rubbing'the other smartly over the spot. Cramp usually comes as an after-effect of indigestion, or it may bo due to the coldness of .tho water. Swimmers addicted to it should never venture out of their depth. I ivould recommend occasional practice in old clothes that, the day of misfortune may not take us at a disadvantage. Undressing one’s self in the water is much easier than it seems. To take off a coat, you should “tread water” and throw off the garment dexterously. Boots are disposed of one at a time lying on the back, paddling with one hand, and undoing buttons or laces with tho other. When this is done push your shoe off by pressing the toe of the other foot upon the heel. Trousers may he dispensed with by swimming on the back, giving short leg strokes and undoing belt or suspenders as quickly as possible. The next manoeuvre is to paddle with the hands and shako the feet, which allows the garment to slip off, giving perfect freedom to the swimmer.

Weeds are a source of real danger in sea, river, and pond. Sometimes they grow so deep that they are hidden from view, and yet will entrap the swimmer’s limbs. Here again the great tiling is to keep one’s presence of mind. Lie as flat as possible, make a few short rapid kicks, and sbiii'd 1 ly pull the water towards you " lowed bands, whose fingers ■ cd tightly together. A popular error is that colds are :> .;i caught from sea water. This is finite a mist trice, and I always insist on a sharp rub down with a Turkish towel directly after leaving the water. Then' if you wish to obtain full benefit from your dip in tlic sea, follow this up by a sharp canter along the beach with bare feet and finish off with a sun-bath on the rocks. As. to saving the life of another, this does not require an extraordinary

strong swimmor; nor is it advisable to wait until tho drowning person, comes up for the third time—lor if he does this at all lie will not be far on tiiis side ol the bolder of life. Tho great thing is to keep out of tho clutches of tho drowning, otherwise bath will be tosl—a, a long list of fatalities i very year so mournfully proves. Watch your opportunity and grasp your ciiaige by the back of the neck, approaching from behind. Ho will lose such self-control as ho has the moment you tail to-keep his head out ol ivater. Tho mere splash of a wave will start him struggling frantically again, unless it be a fellow-swim-mer attacked with cramp and amonble to reason. Should he strive to seize you, catch him under the armpits, and by holding him in this way you will keep his head higher out of the water. ‘

If a person can swim over so little it requires 'but a trifling support to enable him to await calmly a longdelayed resucuo. And most interesting experiments are made in this matter of life-saving in the public parks of London, Paris, and Berlin, v.' ere absolutely free tuition is given to children in the public schools by competent instructors engaged by tho Municipal Councils.