ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 938, 7 January 1911, Page 2

ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY.

(To the Editor). Sir, —Allow me to thank you for introducing the subject of lifesaving and resuscitation, which has been so ably taught and spread by the Royal Life Saving Society and its branches throughout the world. With your permission, I should like to refer briefly to a few preliminaries in connection with the subject. The Society, whose objects are as set forth by you in your last issue, has its headquarters in Loudon. His Majesty the King is patron, and Lord Deuborough president, which office is usually held by the Prince of Wales. Mr Wm. Henry, who visited New Zealand a few weeks ago, is general secretary. Previous to Mr Henry’s visit to the Dominion the object of the Society had not been brought very prominently before the public, but followiug < his visit branches sprang up in the chief towns, with the result that considerable progress has been made by swimmers in this, the only practical side of swimming. The head centre ior this district is, I think, Wanganui, so that any clnb formed here would need to be affiliated to the Wanganui head centre, of which I have the honour to be a member. The committee meets regularly, and amongst other business appoints examiners (who must be bronze medallion holders), and issues awards on the recommendation of the examiners, who are generally assisted by a doctor who examines in the physiology required for the higher awards. Any new branches or classes affiliating to the centre would be gladly welcomed, as the centre is very anxious to spread this useful and” humane work amongst all communities within its boundaries. With regard to the requirements for examination, I might mention that the awards are : (i) Elementary certificate, (2) proficiency certificate. (3) teacher’s certificate, (4) bronze medallion, (.5) award of m merit, (6) Iron, instructor’s cate, (7) diploma. The most common awards are the elementary (for children) and proficiency certificate and bronze medallion for those more advanced. For the bronze medallion the candidate must satisfy the examiners in the following test: (1) Land drill in rescue work, (2) land drill in three release methods (showing how to free oneself from the drowning clutch when held by the wrists, neck, or round the arms and body), (3) resuscitation (Schafer method), (4) to show the five rescue and three release methods iu the water, pulling the subject twenty yards each time, (5) to dive for and bring up au object in not less than five feet of water, (6) to swim 100 yards on breast and 50 yards on back without using the arms, (7) to answer questions in physiology as set out iu the Society’s handbook, obtainable from the secretary of the centre at is each, or 6d for members of clubs or classes. Number six test is a vital requirement in this work, as to effect a rescue by methods one, two, three and five the rescuer must swim on his back, holding the subject with his hands dragging him after him. This brief outline will serve to clear the way for the formation of a branch or class in Foxtou —a place in which it is most important that this knowledge should be spread. Providing a suitable room is obtainable, I would be very pleased to meet as many as are interested in the subject, when we could have au informal meetiug and discussion, when some definite scheme might be adopted. In support of the absolute necessity of such knowledge being spread, I might mention the sad accident which occurred in Blenheim a few days ago, when a person was drowned iu sight of half-a-dozen people who had to look on helplessly because ol their inability to swim and render aid. The Feildiug Star draws attention to the matter in a leading article. How often, again, is the would-be rescuer drowned because of a lack of knowledge of bow best to approach and grip the drowning one. We have been saddened by such a calamity more than once in our midst. I have a letter from the secretary of the centre, informing.,i me that as soon as the new baths * are constructed in Palmerston N. a branch of the R.L.S.S. is to be formed there. He also expresses the hope that a branch will be formed iu Foxtou. In conclusion I might say that I shall be only too pleased to help a class along to the best of my ability. A few land drills and one or two demonstrations in the water will, with the help of the handbook, be sufficient to allow the members to go on and perfect themselves in the work. Any person is at liberty to form a class so that the knowledge can be spread iu that way. Thanking you, and apologising for length—my enthusiasm is my excuse —I am, etc., L. J. Furrie.