1931

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When Struggling.
In case of struggling, which renders the drowning person difficult
to manage, turn him on his back as before and take a firm hold
of his arms just above the elbows. Draw his arms upwards at
right angles to his body and swim with the back stroke. This hold
will put the drowning person under the control of the rescuer, and
prevent him from turning round, clutching or even struggling.
Arms Difficult to Hold.
If the arms be difficult to grasp, slip your hands under the arm-
pits of the drowning person and place them on his chest or round
his arms, raise them at right angles to his body and then lie on
your back and swim with the back stroke.
Help When Passive.
To render assistance to a swimmer attacked by cramp or
exhausted, as well as to those in danger of drowning who may be
obedient and remain quiet, the person assisted must place his
hands on the rescuer's shoulders close to the neck, with his arms
at full stretch, and lie on his back perfectly still, with the head
held well back. The rescuer, being uppermost, and having arms
and legs free, swims with the breast stroke. This is by far the
easiest method, and without undue exertion a person can be carried
a much longer distance than by any other method.
For
Over-arm Swimmers.
Another method of rescuing a person when passive is to hold
him with one arm placed over one of his shoulders or under one
of his arms, with your hand under the opposite armpit, or holding
him by his clothes, thus leaving your other arm free with which
to propel yourself. This method will be useful to over-arm
swimmers as well as to back-stroke swimmers, for although the
rescuer may be partially on his back, he will be able to use either
the over-arm or the back-stroke kick. In order that the rescuer
shall not be obliged to reverse his stroke, he should make use of
his usual over-arm for the purpose of holding the drowning person.
In examinations this method is optional, and may be taken in
place of the third method.
Methods of Release.
The following are the three methods recommended for effecting
release from the clutch of a drowning person :—
Held by the Wrists.
If the rescuer be held by the wrists, he must turn both arms
simultaneously against the drowning person's thumbs, and bring
his arms at right angles to the body, thus dislocating the thumbs
of the drowning person if he does not leave go.
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