Drowning

The sun was hot, and so Umm Farid did not allow her son, five years of age, to go down to the sea; the sun had burned him the day before, so she preferred that the bathing be put off until after noon. She stood at the window watching him walk beside his father toward the shore. He was wearing his blue bathing suit and carrying his horse with pride. The mother remembers the picture exactly, for it was the last she ever saw of her child. What happened after that is hard to describe; the father was a broken man as he told the story. He had stood watching his son frolic, riding the yellow rubber horse, when one of his friends passed by and caught him up in conversation; and when he turned around again, he saw the toy floating on the surface of the water. The little horseman had vanished.

The incidents differ on the surface, but the truth is one, and it comes back to the want of proper instruction and full awareness. Swimming is an art that must be learned and mastered before it is practiced. Is there anything harder than the plight of a person swimming who suddenly finds himself under the water, with no helper and no rescuer, because he could not stay afloat for a few minutes? The mother must see to it that her child is taught to swim, then make certain that he is sure of himself, and stand watching him closely; parents who pay no heed or take no such care pass through hardships of every kind.

The age at which a child begins to learn swimming varies. There are children of five who swim expertly, while others are afraid, and must be accustomed to it in successive stages. You must notice in which periods your child seems to take delight in swimming, and seize the opportunities, for teaching him properly may mean saving his life one day. The scarcity of facilities makes the practice of swimming difficult, but this too can be solved if someone is found to instruct the child; even in countries far from the sea, small, safe rivers can be found. The pleasure of swimming is important enough that safety must be secured for it. Here are some rules for securing it: First — do not bathe alone. Second — if you are not skilled, do not venture far from the watch of the lifeguards. Third — do not ignore things that come over you; if you feel a pain, leave the water. Fourth — do not go at night unless you are expert and in company. Fifth — do not dive from a boat into deep water. Sixth — be careful when the temperature of the water drops. Seventh — wait an hour or two after eating, then bathe. Eighth — if you are not practiced, do not take responsibility for your companions, for thousands have lost their lives in attempts beyond their powers.