SCOUTING FOR GIRLS 
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in water. Send for the doctor at once, but carry out 
these instructions while you wait for him. 
WATER ACCIDENTS 
When it is possible, Girl Scouts should learn to swim 
well. It is fear when suddenly thrown into the water 
that causes many of the deaths by drowning, and learn- 
ing to swim well takes away this fear. A Girl Scout 
should also learn how to prevent accidents, and how 
best to help the victims of accidents in the water. 
Prevention 
Below are five rules for preventing drowning accidents. 
1. Do not change seats in a canoe or rowboat. 
2. Do not rock the boat. 
3. Do not go out alone in a canoe, rowboat or sailboat 
unless you are thoroughly competent to manage such a 
boat, even in a sudden squall or storm. 
4. Very cold water exhausts a swimmer much quicker 
than warm water, therefore do not take any chances on 
a long swim in cold water unless a boat accompanies you 
to pick you up in case of necessity. 
5. Be careful not to get too far out when there is a 
strong undertow; that is, a strong current below the 
surface of the water flowing relentlessly out to sea. 
Rescue 
When a person gives up the struggle in the water, the 
body goes down, and then because of its bouyancy it 
comes to the surface and some air is expelled from the 
lungs, making the body less bouyant. It immediately 
sinks again, this time a little lower, and again comes 
to the surface, and more air is expelled. This process 
may be repeated several times, until sufficient water is 
taken into the stomach and lungs to overcome the buoy- 
ancy of the body and it no longer appears at the surface ; 
but the buoyancy is barely overcome, and therefore the 
