Modern Methods of Life-Saving
It is often remarked by those who have a very limited knowledge of swimming matters, that it is the good swimmer who gets drowned. This is a very erroneous impression and one that will not bear investigation.
It is the fellow who thinks he is a good swimmer and who usually tries some fool-hardy stunt which he is not competent to undertake, who loses his life. Besides, this sort of chap may be a fair swimmer, but he does not get any practice, and probably overeats before going into the water, and goes far out beyond his depth, forgetting that he has to come back again, and when his muscles and wind, which are not accustomed to the extra tax, give out, loses his head, gulps a big shipment of water, and then the excitement strangles him and brings on heart-failure and he is gone for good. He is not literally drowned, he is shocked to death, for I mean to say it, and most medical men and other experts competent to judge will bear out my statement when I tell you that there are very few people drowned in the water, and that most of the deaths occur from heart-failure, as I have stated above, while the fact that many of the drowning cases in the surf are found floating face down, show that the shock has closed up the epiglottis, and no water has penetrated the stomach or lungs.
But until everyone who attends school is taught to swim and be competent to take care of themselves in the water under all conditions, life-saving must be part of the educational work of swimming, in fact, made a strong feature of natatorial instruction; therefore, it behooves the skilled swimmer to learn the best ways to approach a person in the water who may need help, and better still, to know how to release one’s self from the death-grip of a drowning person.
LIFE-SAVING—FRONT STRANGLE HOLD, HELD AT DISTANCE.
LIFE-SAVING—FRONT STRANGLE HOLD, HELD CLOSE.
LIFE-SAVING—BACK STRANGLE HOLD.
LIFE-SAVING—PITINOFF CARRY.
LIFE-SAVING—HEAD AND CHIN CARRY.
LIFE-SAVING—ARM RESCUE.
LIFE-SAVING—SCHAEFER METHOD OF RESUSCITATION.
The chief don’t that I would emphasize is that, unless you are a good swimmer yourself, and know how to keep cool in times of excitement such as when a boat overturns, or some one is suddenly precipitated in the water, you had better not attempt a rescue, for, while it is very commendable to be a hero, unless you know what you are about, two people will lose their lives instead of one. However, if you are cool, and can swim well, to approach a person in the right way, break any hold they may take on you, and tow them into shore and out of danger, is but a simple task, although if you have to go quite a distance, it may tire you a lot, but you will have that glorious satisfaction of having saved a life of a fellow brother.
In attempting a rescue, never approach a person from in front, if you can possibly avoid it, and you invariably can, unless you are in a boat with them and you are suddenly thrown in the water, and coming up near someone they may grasp you before you have time to get back of them. Always get back of them and then it will be easy to grasp them by the various holds that are herein described, and by telling them to keep cool, easily tow them to shore.
The most likely grip to be taken by the drowning person is for them to grasp you by the wrists, if in front of them. This is a very easy hold to break, for, by turning your elbows up suddenly and your hands down and outward, they will have to release because they have no clutch on you but the thumb-hold. After effecting the releases, you can turn the person around, so you will be back of them and then bring them in by the holds here explained and illustrated.
A most dangerous hold is for the person to grasp you around the neck with both arms, and clutching you tight, draw you very close to them in a strangle-hold. When this hold is taken, you must put your right arm under their left shoulder, placing your thumb and forefinger tightly over their nose and shutting off the wind, while you press your left hand against his back, drawing him to you and pushing his head back. Be strong and rough about it if necessary, as you will not hurt him, and very soon, because he cannot get his breath, he will release his hold, and then you must turn him around quickly on his back and the rest will be easy, especially if you assure him that there is no danger if he will not try to struggle.
Another hold that looks as if it might be very hard to break is the back strangle-hold, where the excited one grasps you from behind around the neck with both arms. You must at once take hold of both of his hands with your hands, throw your head back with all the force you can, knocking him a hard blow on the nose with the back of your head, and then by ducking your head down under water, you will be able to get free, but you must keep hold of one of his hands in order to turn him around as in the other holds, in order not to lose your grip so you can tow him to safety.
Towing the subject to shore, of course, is much easier than breaking the holds. One of the very easy methods is to grasp the person by the hair of the head, unless he be bald, and as the body is easy to carry this way and floats well, you can use both your lower limbs and one arm to tow him to shore or to the upturned boat or canoe, if the latter is near, for it is not wise to go further than necessary, for someone will be very apt to come to your assistance if you hold on to the craft, and numerous cases are on record of the rescuer becoming exhausted when having to carry a person very far.
If you are swimming with a friend or near another person who gets tired, it is the easiest thing in the world to help him, for all you have to do is to ask him to place his forefingers of both hands upon your shoulders, he lying on his back, his feet kept close together and between your legs, and then you swim the breast stroke, and as you have the use of all your limbs, the person will be very easy to carry for a long distance, providing you swim easy and slowly and do not try to hurry.
Another method of carrying is by the neck and arm hold, where you turn the person on their side, grasping them with one arm around and under the neck and over their shoulder, to prevent them from struggling, and you can then swim on your side, using one arm under water and getting a side-stroke kick, having the person entirely under your control, in a case where he might be struggling to release himself.
More people’s lives are now saved annually than at any time before in the world’s history, on account of the advanced ideas now in vogue in connection with the resuscitation of the apparently drowned, and with the latest and best method now used, called the Schaefer method, it is easier to bring the person who is recovered from the water, when not submerged too long, back again to life by producing artificial respiration, and restoring circulation, if life is not already extinct.
As soon as the person’s body is recovered, he is placed face down on the beach or some flat place, preferably with the head at the lowest point, in order that any water that may be in the stomach or lungs will be more readily gotten out. The face is turned to one side, the tongue pulled out and fastened by a rubber band, a string, or held out by an assistant, so it will stay out and not fall back again into the mouth and close up the passage-way. The hands are extended straight out beyond the head. The operator kneels down on one knee, grasps the sides of the body just below the lower ribs, making pressure steadily and firmly inwards and upwards, and releasing suddenly, the idea being to make the lungs work something like a rubber ball would act after pressure and on sudden release, or in other words producing an artificial gasp, for the purpose of bringing back respiration, for when this is accomplished, the circulation will be restored, and by keeping the patient warm and rubbing the limbs you will be able to bring the apparently dead back to life.
The work of the operator must not be too quickly done, but timed in keeping with your own or natural breathing, and it is better to have another person ready to take up the work when you are tired and thus work in relays, persisting for a long time if necessary, or until medical help can be obtained, for as long as there is life in the body, even though animation be suspended, there is hope.
HIGH DIVE—PLAIN HEADER.
Backward header.
Backward somersault.
HIGH DIVE.
HIGH DIVE—ARMSTAND WITH HEADER.
HIGH DIVE—ARMSTAND WITH OVERBACK.