XN000022-1976-07-24 — Page 4

SATURDAY, JULY 24, 1376

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SWIMMING SAFETY ****

WHO WILL BE THE UNLUCKY 13 TO BOOST THE TOLL IN SWIMMING MISHAPS THIS YEAR?

TWELVE PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY BEEN DROWNED THIS YEAR AND THE THIRTEENTH ACCIDENT WILL HAPPEN TO THE SWIMMER WHO DOES NOT OBSERVE THE VERY BASIC SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.

SO, WHEN YOU GO SWIMMING, CHOOSE A BEACH WHERE THERE ARE LIFE GUARDS. IF YOU PREFER TO GO TO THE REMOTE AND LESS CROWDED SPOTS, DO NOT GO ALONE BECAUSE YOUR FRIENDS MAY GIVE YOU HELP IF YOU ARE IN TROUBLE.

IT IS ALSO ADVISABLE TO LISTEN TO THE RADIO OR TELEVISION BEFORE LEAVING FOR THE BEACH TO CHECK WHETHER THE RED FLAG HAS BEEN HOISTED AT ANY BEACH, RED FLAG MEANS IT IS DANGEROUS FOR SWIMMERS TO ENTER WATER. BUT SOME PEOPLE MAY IGNORE THIS WARNING AND PUT THEIR LIVES IN PERIL.

ANOTHER RULE TO REMEMBER IS NEVER SWIM IMMEDIATELY AFTER A MEAL OR WHEN YOU ARE HUNGRY OR TIRED.

ALWAYS KEEP WITHIN THE ALLOTED AREA AND NEVER GO OUT OF DEPTH UNLESS YOU ARE CONFIDENT THAT YOU CAN MAKE THE DISTANCE WITHOUT ANY DIFFICULTY, YOU SHOULD NEVER RELY ON SWIMMING AIDS BECAUSE INFLATED MATTRESS, RINGS AND FLOATS CAN LOSE THE IR BUOYANCY OR FLOW OUT OF YOUR GRASP.

EQUALLY IMPORTANT IS NOT TO STAY IN THE WATER FOR TOO LONG ESPECIALLY IF IT IS VERY COLD AND DO NOT WEAR MASKS OR SNORKELS UNLESS YOU ARE TRAINED TO USE THEM. IT IS DIFFICULT TO SHOUT FOR HELP WITH THESE EQUIPMENT ON.

IF YOU WANT TO DIVE, MAKE SURE YOU DO SO AT THE POINT WHERE THE WATER IS DEEP ENOUGH.

BOATING HAS BECOME VERY POPULAR EUT UNLESS YOU ARE A GOOD SWIMMER, DO NOT ROW AN ORDINARY RUBBER DINGHY OR A LOOSELY-BUILT SAMPAN OUT AT SEA.

IF YOU EVER FIND YOURSELF IN TROUELE, THE FIRST AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO DO IS +KEEP CALM+, THEN RAISE YOUR RIGHT ARM AND SHOUT FOR ASSISTANCE AND AT THE SAME TIME, TRY TO TREAD ATER OR FLOAT ON YOUR BACK,

IF YOU SEE YOUR FRIEND IN TROUBLE, YOU SHOULD DRAW THE ATTENTION OF THE LIFE GUARDS AT ONCE AND YOU SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT SOMEONE HAS DONE SO OR THE LIFE GUARDS HAVE MOST PROBABLY SPOTTED HIM BECAUSE THE BEACHES ARE USUALLY FULL OF PEOPLE, THUS MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE LIFE GUARDS TO KEEP AN EYE ON EVERY INDIVIDUAL SWIMMER.

REMEMBER THESE PRECAUTIONS EVEN IF YOU ARE SWIMMING IN POOLS WHICH HAVE CLAIMED LIVES TOO. IN ADDITION, YOU SHOULD NEVER RUN ALONG THE POOL SIDE OR DIVE WHEN THE POOL IS CROWDED.

REMEMBER SWIM IN SAFETY OF YOU MAY NOT LIVE TO REGRET IT.

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