SCOUTING FOR GIRLS 
193 
body will float easily. This can be easily utilized in 
saving the drowning person by making the water carry 
most of the weight of the body. 
To do this, place the hands on either side of the drown- 
ing person’s head, and tow him floating on his back 
with the face above the surface of the water, while you 
swim on your back and keep the body away from you. 
Remember, if possible, to go with the current and thus 
save necessary strength. In some cases it may be easier 
and safer to grasp the drowning person by the hair 
instead of trying to clasp the head. 
Emergencies 
Grips • — A drowning person is always a frightened per- 
son, and is governed by a mad instinct to grab anything 
which subconsciously he thinks may save his life. Usu- 
ally he is past any reasoning. He grabs his would-be 
rescuer with a death grip that is hard to break, but re- 
member he instinctively grabs what is above the sur- 
face and will not try to grab below the shoulders. 
Wrist Grip—li the drowning person grasps the res- 
cuer’s wrists, the rescuer throws both hands above his 
head, which forces both low in the water, and then turns 
the leverage of his arms against the other’s thumbs and 
breaks the grip. 
Neck Grip — To release a grip around the neck and 
shoulders from the front, immediately cover the mouth 
of the other with the palm of the hand, holding the nose 
between the first two fingers, and at the same time pull 
the other body toward you with the other hand, mean- 
while treading water. Then take a full breath and apply 
your knee to the other’s stomach quickly, thus forcing 
him to expel any air in his lungs and preventing him 
from getting more air by the hand on mouth and nostrils. 
If the grip of the drowning person does not allow 
use of the arms, then try to raise your arms to the 
