Getting Water Wise Campaign For Swimmers

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 2, 23 January 1952, Page 1

Getting Water Wise Campaign For Swimmers

From the Physical Welfare Office at Hamilton have been widely circulated pamphlets warning bathers of the need for becoming "water wise". The tragedy of drowning fatalities as with road deaths, is that in most cases these might have been avoided, and a few simple rules observed. It is pointed out that swimming in New Zealand is enjoyed over a long summer period, roughly four months. The holiday months of December, January and February are the heaviest toll. As the result of public warnings and the distribution of safety propaganda the drowning figures over the past two years have shown a downward tendency, but the total is still unnecessarily high. It was 103 for 1950-51, but from this total has to be subtracted 39 deaths resulting from the exceptional circumstances connected with the loss of the launch Ranui at Tauranga, the yachts Argo and Husky during the Wellington-Lyttleton race a year ago, and the drowning of three people whose car was procipitated into a river. "While the figures are greatest for youths and young men, who are perhaps more liable to the error of over-confidence, it is also shown," we are told, "that there is a very great danger to infants and young children. This may be due to lack of supervision or of early training in safety measures. The figures for the groups from 50 to 70 years of age, and over 70, show however that age does not necessarily bring carefulness, and that one is never too old to take proper precautions." An analysis of the circumstances surroundng the recorded drowning fatalities during the past year reveals that some victims were drowned near home; others in rivers while playing in water; capsizing of dinghy; while swimming across creeks; unable to swim, fell into swimming pool while throwing stones; poor swimmer in river; aquaplaning; fell in river while fishing; capsize of boat while trying to cross river; swept away by river current; dived into pool; unable to swim, playing in river; unable to swim, bathing alone in river; washed overboard from rubber dinghy (would-be rescuer drowned also) ; hit head when dived into river; good swimmer injured spine when diving into pool, drowned; fell off boat, (good swimmer but dressed in oilskins) ; fell into river while playing on bank; several cases of poor swimmers or persons unable to swim being drowned in rivers and harbours. It is specially stressed that the rivers exact the highest toll. "Don't" is emphasised, "try swimming across unknown sections of river, there may be submerged trees; the current may be stronger, the water colder than you expect. Don't rush in carelessly . . . the gravel may have scoured into a dangerous hole. Keep an eye on children playing on the bank or paddling in the shallows. If you are a tramper or mountaineer, learn how, when, and where to cross rivers in safety . Treat every river as dangerous until it is proved otherwise."