Students Demonstrate How to Prevent Tragedy TO SAVE A LIFE… Ralph Barnard, Red Cross life saving student swimmer (left) is shown in Weber gymnasium pool demonstrating how to apply a chin carry in making a rescue in deep water. He has just emerged from under water where he broke a back strangle grip applied by the supposedly drowning man, Mohry Eckhardt another student in the class taught by Ferron Losee. April 1941 RED CROSS CUTS DEATH TOLL IN WATER HAZARD Swimming Instructions Given, Many Trained In Life Saving During the past year the Weber county chapter of the American Red Cross has trained 34 seniors in water safety and life saving; 43 juniors, six instructors and 122 scouts. Swimming instruction has been given to 700 boys and girls. IN addition, qualified life savers with Red Cross badges have given many demonstrations of water safety technique throughout the year. Heading the local life saving committee of the Red Cross is Ferron Losee, swimming instructor at Weber college. “Each year there are a great many avoidable accidents in the water,” Losee said. “It is the sincere desire of the local chapter to cut down these accidents. Only with the cooperation of the public is this possible, however.” Correction Possible In the early summer many fishermen are drowned because of carelessness or lack of knowledge of water safety principles, he said. “We have a number of hazards in our vicinity which could easily be those seeking recreation in our canyons and along our streams and lakes.” Losee pointed out that by far the greater number of adult drownings are either directly or indirectly attributable to intoxicants. “This is a hazard that cannot be eliminated by the acts of anyone but the picnickers or sportsmen themselves,” he said, “but everyone should refrain from drinking intoxicating liquors when going near lakes or streams. This is merely for their own safety.” The chapter gives free demonstrations and instruction in the use of boats each year, yet many accidents involving small craft occur each year. However, results of the efforts of the life saving committee of the Red Cross have been very encouraging despite the accidents. There are 26 swimmers alive this year through the activities of Red Cross life savers who recorded with the chapter secretary that many rescues last summer. Also, there were no doubt many cases where training in Red Cross water safety prevented accidents which might have been fatal. Ed Thorstenson will conduct the annual national Red Cross aquatic school June 1 to 10 at Como Springs, near Morgan, this year. He will be assisted by Carl Belliston, Losee predecessor in Ogden as Weber college and Red Cross swimming instructor. Belliston has conducted the school at Como in past years, but will be here this year only as an advisor to the new district director, who will be leading his first school of the type. Two people from Weber county chapter will be sent to Como for advance training in water safety. Meantime Losee will attend an advanced course in surf and sailing at Long Beach, Calif. To aid chapter instructors in teaching principles of water safety in small craft, the chapter has purchased a canoe. Instructions will be given where called for. Anyone interested in receiving instruction in water safety or in life saying may receive the training free by calling the local Red Cross chapter, telephone 229.