FLOATING.
The most important step, after learning to swim, is to learn how to float. A skillful swimmer may find himself overtaken by cramp while in deep water. He can turn upon his back and float until he recovers or help reaches him. In case of shipwreck, or where a person is forced to stay a long time in water, he can rest by floating.
Taking your position in water, no higher than your breast nor shallower than your waist, you lie very gently on your back, with your chest elevated, your hands on your stomach and your feet extended in a straight line, close to the surface. If you wish to swim on your back, you have only to draw up your legs and strike out as when swimming in the natural position. It is a poor method, however, as you cannot see in what direction you are going, and will soon exhaust your strength.
After learning to swim, there are many fanciful movements which can be easily learned. They have no special value, but afford amusement to those who look on or engage in them.
You cannot be too careful while learning to swim. Boys are apt to be venturesome and think their parents are too timid on their account. You should make it a rule never to go into water beyond your depth until you can swim very well. If this rule should be followed the number of deaths from drowning would be greatly lessened.
Why should every boy and girl learn to swim?
Give directions for the first lesson in swimming.
What is sure to follow?
What helps may be used at the beginning?
Show the advantage of knowing how to float in the water.
Show how a person may float.
What is said of fanciful movements in the water?
What care should boys exercise?
CHAPTER IX.
HOW TO TREAT DROWNED PERSONS.
Many persons are drowned every month, and almost every day. Hundreds doubtless could be saved by a knowledge of the art of swimming, while others could have been revived, had the proper means been used.
When any one believes he is drowning, he becomes frantic and his fierce struggles only hasten his death. If a friend swims to his rescue, there is danger that he will throw his arms around his rescuer and cause both to drown.
GOING TO THE RESCUE.
If the person in danger will keep still, when his friend seizes his hair or arm, he can readily be taken ashore. If a swimmer finds his sinking friend frantic, it may be necessary to strike him a violent blow between the eyes so as to stun him for a minute or two.
A drowning person generally rises twice before sinking the last time. Those who have been unconscious ten, fifteen, twenty minutes and sometimes longer, have been resuscitated or brought back to life. What is done, therefore, must be done without delay. Should you be present when a drowned person is taken from the water, you ought to know exactly what to do.
If any one can be spared to go for the doctor, let him run with all speed. The instant the body is brought to land, turn it upon the face, with a hard roll of clothing under the pit of the stomach. This roll can be readily made from your own clothing or that of others if present. Put one wrist of the patient under his forehead so as to keep his mouth off the ground.
Then, with your hands well spread upon the patient's back, above the roll of clothing, press down with the whole weight of your body, pushing forward at the same time. Repeat this two or three times, with quickness and vigor. The object of the movement is to force the water from the lungs, and it must occupy very little time, for there is none to throw away.
Having freed the lungs so far as possible from water, turn the patient on his back, face upward, with the hard roll of clothing beneath his back. Bend the head backward and downward, so that the throat is stretched to the utmost. Place his hands on top of his head, and, if there be any one standing near, let him tie the wrists with a single twist of the handkerchief.
All the clothing must be instantly stripped off to the waist. Kneel astride the patient's hips; grasp the front part of the chest on both sides of the pit of the stomach, your thumbs pointing to the patient's chin and your fingers fitting into the grooves between the short ribs.
Brace your elbows firmly, making them rigid with your sides and hips, while your knees serve as a pivot. Press the sides of the patient firmly together, throwing yourself slowly forward for a second or two until your face almost touches his and your whole weight presses upon his chest. End this pressure with a sudden short push, which will send you back to the kneeling posture.
Stop for two or three seconds, so as to allow the ribs to spring back into position. Then repeat this bellows-blowing movement as before, gradually increasing the rate from seven to ten times a minute. Watch closely, and if you detect a natural gasp, do not interrupt it, but as the ribs sink, gently press them and deepen the gasp into a long breath. Continue to give this help, until the natural breathing is fully resumed, but do not cease your efforts for fully an hour or longer.
Avoid impatient vertical pushes; the force must be upward and inward. If a second person is present, he should pull the end of the tongue of the patient out of a corner of his mouth and hold it there, using his handkerchief or piece of cotton rag. This helps to give the air free passage to and from the lungs.
What causes a great many deaths from drowning?
How does a person act when he believes he is drowning? What is he likely to do if a friend swims to his rescue?
What may be done if the drowning person keeps still? What, if he becomes frantic?
How often does a drowning person generally rise? How long after drowning has a person been resuscitated or brought back to life?
What about the doctor? Now, describe very carefully the first step to be taken the instant a drowned person is brought to land. What should be done with his wrist?
What next should be done? In what manner and how often should this be done? What is the object of the movement?
After freeing the lungs, so far as possible, from water, what is the next step? What should be done with his hands?
What of the patient's clothing? What next should be done?
Having placed yourself astride the patient's hips, describe what should be done next.
What are the next steps? What should be done if a natural gasp is detected? How long should you continue your efforts to restore the patient to life?
What should be avoided? What should be done by a spectator, if there be one?
Now tell me precisely what to do from the moment a drowned person is taken out of the water until he is resuscitated or it is proven he is beyond help. (The teacher must insist on an answer, correct in every particular, for it is evident that unless he knows every step, the pupil's knowledge is useless.)
CHAPTER X
ANOTHER METHOD OF TREATMENT IN CASES OF ASPHYXIA FROM DROWNING, CHLOROFORM, COAL-GAS, ETC.
The following method is recommended by Marshall Hall, a very high authority on all such questions:
“Treat the patient instantly on the spot, in the open air, freely exposing the face, neck, and chest to the breeze except in very cold weather.
“In order to clear the throat, place the patient gently on the face, with one wrist under the forehead, that all fluid, and the tongue itself, may fall forward, and leave the entrance into the windpipe free.
“To excite respiration, turn the patient slightly on his side, and apply some irritating or stimulating agent to the nostrils, such as hartshorn.
“Make the face warm by brisk friction: then dash cold water upon it.
“If not successful, lose no time; but, to imitate respiration, place the patient on his face, and turn the body gently, but completely on the side, and a little beyond; then again on the face, and so on, alternately.
“Repeat these movements deliberately and perseveringly, fifteen times only in a minute. (When the patient lies on the thorax, this cavity is compressed by the weight of the body, and expiration takes place. When he is turned on the side, this pressure is removed, and inspiration occurs.)
“When the prone position is resumed, make a uniform and efficient pressure along the spine, removing the pressure immediately, before rotation on the side. (The pressure augments the expiration; the rotation commences inspiration.) Continue these measures.
“Rub the limbs upward, with firm pressure and with energy. (The object being the return of venous blood to the heart.)
“Substitute for the patient's wet clothing, if possible, such other clothing as can be instantly procured, each by-stander supplying a coat or cloak, etc. Meantime, and from time to time, to excite inspiration, let the surface of the body be slapped briskly with the hand.
“Rub the body briskly till it is dry and warm, then dash cold water upon it, and repeat the rubbing.
“Avoid the immediate removal of the patient, as it involves a dangerous loss of time; also, the use of bellows, or any forcing instrument; also, the warm bath and all rough treatment.”
Describe the first step recommended by Marshall Hall in the case of asphyxia from drowning, chloroform, coal-gas, etc.
How would you clear the throat?
How is respiration or breathing excited?
What should be done to the face?
If not successful in reviving the patient, what should be done to excite respiration?
How often should this movement be repeated?
Explain how respiration is produced by this proceeding.
What is the next step? Explain its meaning.
What should be done with the limbs? What is the object?
What of the patient's wet clothing? What should be done from time to time?
What else is recommended to be done?
What should be avoided?
Now, give every step to be taken in resuscitating persons by Hall's method.
CHAPTER XI.
THE MUSCLES.
You are provided by nature with about four hundred muscles. Every one has its special use. They are fastened to the bones, which can only be moved by them. The principal muscles are shown in the figure on page [45].
The muscles are generally found in pairs, so that when motion is produced in one direction, another muscle or group of muscles causes motion in the opposite direction.