_Choosing the Crew._ Every camp should build up around its Master of
Aquatics a Life Saving Corps from among the campers. Choosing the
personnel of the Corps is a very important matter. The applicants should
understand that it is an honor to be a member of this unit.
[Illustration: THE GOODNIGHT STORY]
It will be found that if the members of the Corps are allowed to have
separate sleeping quarters, near the water, over which they fly the Red
Cross Life Saving Corps flag, mess together and be relieved of K. P.
duty, that they will develop an esprit de corps which will make for
efficiency in their work and be of great value to the general morale of
the camp.
Everyone trying for membership should first have a medical examination
to prove that he is physically able to stand the very difficult work
which he may have to perform at any time. The group of applicants should
then be tested out as to their swimming ability, especially being
required to swim on back without hands, and on side with one arm only.
_Training._ After your applicants have been culled out, the ones that
you decide to use should be given a thorough course of training, first
being obliged to pass the Red Cross life saving test. They must be
instructed in boat handling and the methods of taking another person
into the boat, in the proper method of throwing the life buoy, using a
60-foot line and a 19-inch buoy. They should be capable of tying knots
needed in their work, such as a square knot, clove hitch, two half
hitches, bowline, short splice and eye splice. Much emphasis should be
placed on instruction in resuscitation by the Schaefer method, and no
attempt should be made to instruct them in the use of any mechanical
respiratory devices as they are practically useless.
During the camp season, if possible, members should have thorough
instruction in first aid, especially as it applies to water accidents,
the most common of which are abrasions, sun burn, seasickness, broken
arms from backfire of gasoline engines, sickness from gasoline fumes of
motor boat engines, and submersion.
_Duties of Crew._ The Life Saving Corps should be familiar with the
water at all points and should buoy any especially dangerous spots, such
as submerged tree stumps or very deep holes. This can be done with a
line, anchor, and float painted red.
The Life Saving Corps should be in charge of Mates under the command of
the Master of Aquatics who is the Captain. A log of each day's work
should be kept, recording such events as concern the Corps, such as
weather report, officer in charge of day's watch, number of swimmers,
name of day's swimming instructor, number taught to swim, etc. Watches
should be so arranged that members of crew are not on duty more than two
days out of three.
[Illustration: "GOOD MORROW, LORD SUN!"]
During the bathing periods, which should be at least two hours after
meals, the Corps members will be in charge of the protection and
discipline of bathers, the instruction of swimming, and supervision of
diving.
The following is suggested as a good distribution. Two in each life
boat, oarsman and coxswain, one person on the dock, two lookouts and
messenger in the tower, one at diving board and one or two instructing
swimming (change instructors every third day).
_The Swimming Test._ After every camper has had a medical examination he
should have a test in swimming and be graded in one of three classes:
Non-Swimmer, red knot on right shoulder; Beginner--the ones that will
still bear watching--white knot on right shoulder; Swimmer, American Red
Cross Junior Life Saving Corps emblem.
Check your list up every once in a while to see that everybody is in the
right class. Hold frequent tests to re-classify two lower grades. The
graded Red Cross tests are recommended and arrangements can be made for
Red Cross awards.