SWIMMING

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20728, 11 February 1939, Page 23 (Supplement)

SWIMMING

“LEARN=TO=SWIM” NATIONAL CAMPAIGN PUBL-JC SUPPORT REQUIRED (By “Leander”) During the last ten years deaths due to drowning in New Zealand have been second in number to the deaths caused by road accidents. Lives lost through road accidents have averaged 196 per year, and those lost through drowning 144 per year. These statements of facts and figures are not recent statistics; they have been known and impressed upon New Zealanders before to-day, but with little result. The death-roll through drowning is still growing each year, and still the average New Zealander does not appear to be greatly impressed. He is too prone to shrug his shoulders and dismiss it as just being one of those inevitable happenings. But wait until he is affected personally; until one of his family is concerned in a drowning fatality. Then you may hear him speak bitterly and at length concerning the growing death-roll. And most bitter of all is the thought that he has no one to blame save himself. He did not teach his children to swim, or see that they were taught to swim. lie did not think of the possible danger of letting them bathe in unfrequented places. He did not think of them being carried out of their depths by swift running currents. Facts For Parents If you are a parent, stop for a moment and consider these facts very carefully. Can your children swim? Do you let them bathe in unpatrolled or unfrequented areas? Do you allow them to use rubber floats on which they may be carried away from the shore and out of their depths? Could you, .in an emergency, do anything to avert a tragedy through drowning? If you are dissatis-fled with your answers to any one of these questions, don’t just think about it —do something! In the hope of reducing the number of deaths through drowning, a National Committee of Swimming and Life-Sav-ing, sponsored by the Government, has been set up, and has taken upon itself the responsibility of educating the public in water safety. The committee believes that foolhardiness is responsible for the death of most of the bathers drowned, and it is thought that if the public co-operates by heeding the warnings there will be considerably fewer drownings in the Dominion in future. Swimming instructors have been engaged to travel throughout all districts giving instruction free of charge to anyone who cannot swim. There is. ' therefore, no excuse for anyone being unable to swim. If you or any member of your family cannot swim, there will be an instructor in your district within the next few weeks, if there is not one there already. Get in touch with him as soon as he arrives. Remember that in endangering your own life, you are endangering those of others. Act now—you may be glad you did. “ Don’ts ” For Swimmers The precautions the committee advises for water safety-are specially commended to parents, and are as follows : Don't take risks when bathing; use common sense. Don't bathe 100 soon after a meal; wait at least an hour. Don’t go beyond your depth alone. 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 crowds; there is safety in numbers. Don’t bathe outside the marked safety areas. The National Committee’s Anal reminders to bathers are that they should learn to swim, and that by endangering themselves they are endangering others.