Camping For Boys Part 24

[Ill.u.s.tration: Coat Stretcher]

Carry a patient by walking out of step, and take short paces, about 18 inches apart. Usually carry the patient feet first, but in going up hill the position is reversed, and the patient is carried head first.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Life Saving Patrol]

The following ill.u.s.trations explain the process of carrying a patient without a stretcher:

[Ill.u.s.tration: Three and four handed carry.]

PREVENTION FROM DROWNING

Learn to Swim

Every summer records its hundreds of drowning accidents, many of which might have been prevented if methods of rescue had been generally taught.

No boy should be permitted to enter a boat, particularly a canoe, until he has learned to swim. The movement to teach swimming to every boy and young man in North America who does not know how to swim is both commendable and practical. The text-book used largely is "At Home in the Water," by George H. Corsan, issued by the publishers of this book.

b.u.t.ton Awards

Summer camps provide a special opportunity for giving such instruction. To each individual who is actually taught to swim in camp a silver-oxidized b.u.t.ton is given by the a.s.sociation's International Committee, 124 East 28th St., New York, provided the test is made under the supervision of a committee of three men. Those who teach others to swim receive a gold oxidized leader's b.u.t.ton. Write to the Physical Department at the above address for information.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Award b.u.t.ton]

U. S. V. Life Saving Corps

An Auxiliary Division of the U. S. Volunteer Life Saving Corps should be established to patrol the water during swimming periods. Any camper may qualify for members.h.i.+p by taking the following examinations: the boy to receive not less than 6 points in 10 point subjects, and not less than 3 points on 5 point subjects, with a total of 75 points. Those receiving less than 75 points may become members of auxiliary crews.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Award b.u.t.ton]

HOW TO QUALIFY.

1 Swimming not less than 100 yards and 25 yards on back. 10 points 2 Diving, plunging, floating, fetching. 10 points 3 Rescue drill on land and water. 10 points 4 Release drill on land and in water. 10 points 5 Resuscitation. 10 points 6 Names of parts of a row boat. 5 points 7 Rowing and boat handling. 10 points 8 Use of life saving appliances. 10 points 9 First aid work and remedies. 10 points 10 Written examination on work in water. 5 points 11 Written examination on work in boats. 5 points 12 Written examination on work on land. 5 points

Organization

To organize at camps, officials will proceed by conducting the above-mentioned examinations. Should there be five or more successful compet.i.tors, crews can be organized as follows, the regular form of enrollment being employed and no enlistments required:

Five men const.i.tute a crew ent.i.tling one of the five to the rank of acting third lieutenant.

Ten men const.i.tute two crews with acting second and third lieutenants.

Fifteen men const.i.tute three crews with acting first, second, and third lieutenants.

Twenty men const.i.tute four crews (or a division) with acting captain, first, second, and third lieutenants, lieutenant surgeon, quartermaster, boatswain, and one c.o.xswain for each crew or three c.o.xswains.

Auxiliary members over eighteen years of age may become active members after leaving camps and receive active members.h.i.+p commissions, provided they affiliate with some active permanent crew in their home district.

Auxiliary members holding our certificates shall be ent.i.tled to auxiliary members.h.i.+p b.u.t.tons, but active members only are ent.i.tled to wear the official badge of members.h.i.+p of the corps.

Summer camps will be equipped, at the discretion of headquarters, on the following conditions:

That they shall pay all express on supplies to and from camps.

That they shall report at the end of each season the exact condition of the supplies and make provision for the safekeeping of same for future seasons, or return same.

Medicine chests must be returned.

Instructors will be sent to the various camps, at the discretion of headquarters, whenever possible. All expenses, traveling, board, etc., but not services, must be covered by the camps.

Examination questions will be found in our book, "Instruction on Subjects for Examination for Members.h.i.+p." If desired, camp officials can make examinations more rigid than outlined by us.

Examination papers furnished on request.

The above information was furnished by K. F. Mehrtens, a.s.sistant Secretary, United States Volunteer Life Saving Corps, 63-65 Park Row, New York City.

Training Course

Efficient life saving comes from thorough experience and training, not from a theory. These subjects for instruction may be taught preparatory to the summer camp, as well as during the camping season.

Swimming to include straight-away, swimming with clothes on, floating, diving, fetching: strokes--perfect breast stroke, side stroke, overhead stroke, crawl stroke.

Rescue Methods to include rescuing a supposedly drowning person. Use of life saving apparatus.

Methods of Release to include grasping by the wrist, clutch around the neck and grasp around the body.

Resuscitation of the apparently drowned, including the Sylvester method described on page 194, and the simple "first aid" rules.

Boat Handling to include rowing a boat, taking a person into a boat from the water, clinging to a boat without capsizing it, etc.

Knot Tying to include all kinds of knots and their value in connection with life-saving work, and the use of them on life-saving appliances.

Wig-wagging to include the committing to memory of the U. S. Naval Wig-Wag Signal Code. The following is used at Camp Wawayanda, New Jersey Boys.

WIG-WAG CODE

Signalling by wig-wag is carried on by waving a flag in certain ways, represented by the figures 1, 2 and 3, and thus letters are made and words spelled.

Two wig-wag flags are used, one a square white flag with a red square in the center, and the other a square red flag with white square in the center.

Only one flag is used in signalling, and that one is selected which can best be seen against the boy's background.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Interval; Signal 1; Signal 2; Signal 3]

U. S. NAVAL WIG-WAG SIGNAL CODE.

ALPHABET.

A 22 B 2112 C 121 D 222 F 2221 G 2211 H 122 I 1 J 1122 K 2121 L 221 M 1221 N 11 O 21 P 121 Q 1211 R 211 S 212 T 2 U 112 V 1222 W 1121 X 2122 Y 111 Z 2222 Tion 1112

ALPHABET CLa.s.sIFIED.

I 1 N 11 Y 111