WATER SAFETY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 January 1939, Page 7

WATER SAFETY

* NATIONAL LEARN TO SWIM CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE OFFERS PRACTICAL ADVICE. SOME PERTINENT "DONT’S.” Concerned at the large number ot drowning fatalities caused in New Zealand through lack of reasonable care on the part of many of the victims when bathing, the National Committee of Swimming and Life-Saving has set out rules advised for safety. The committee, which is organising the National Learn-to-Swim campaign sponsored this summer by the Government, has drawn attention to the fact that during the past ten years deaths due to drowning in New Zealand were second in number to the deaths caused by road accidents. Moreover, drowning has been the gravest menace to life during the summer months. Lives lost through road accidents have averaged 196 per year, and those lost through drowning 144. In the hope of reducing the toll of drowning, the National Committee has taken upon itself the responsibility ol educating the public in water safety. It is claimed by officials of the committee that foolhardiness is responsible for the death of most of the bathers drowned. They believe that, if the public co-operates by heeding its warning, there will be considerably fewer drownings in the Dominion in future. The precautions it advises for water safety are specially commended to parents, and are as follow: — Don't take risks when bathing; use common sense. Don’t bathe too soon I

after a meal; wait at least an hour. Don't go beyond your depth al,one. Don’t jump or dive into water the depth of which you do not know. Don’t stay in the water when feeling numb or cold. Don’t play near creeks, troughs or sheep dips; children drown in them. Don’t try to swim across rivers, streams or currents; it is not worth the risk. Don't overtire yourself when bathing. Don't play with rubber balls and rubber floats or use them to assist you in swimming; they are dangerous. Don’t lose your head if attacked with cramp or in danger; lie calmly on your back and try to attract help. Don’t bathe away from the crowd: there is safety in numbers. Don't bathe outside the marked safely areas. The National Committee’s final reminders to bathers are that they should learn to swim, and that by endangering themselves they are endangering others.