An important branch of the society's work consists of arranging public lectures and holding demonstrations, with practical illustrations of rescue in the water, releasing from the grip of drowning persons, and resuscitation. These lectures and demonstrations are given in the principal towns of the United Kingdom by honorary officers of the society.
Such displays are most useful, as being the means of making known to thousands of spectators the various methods adopted by the society, as well as awakening general interest in the district. It has invariably been found that these demonstrations are followed by a large demand for information, local classes in most instances being eventually formed.
Although the society is but young, its claims have been largely recognised by the press of the United Kingdom. Its objects are : 1. To promote technical education in life-saving and resuscita tion of the apparently drowned.
2. To stimulate public opinion in favour of the general adoption of swimming and life-iaving as a branch of instruction in schools, colleges, &c.
3. To encourage floating, diving, plunging, and such other swimming arts as would be of assistance to a person attempting to save life.
4. To arrange and promote public lectures, demonstrations, and competitions, and to form classes of instruction, so as to bring about a widespread and thorough knowledge of the principles which underlie the art of natation.
At the annual meeting of the society in February, 1893, the executive were able to announce that H.R.H. the Duke of York had graciously consented to become the President of the society. Further, H.S.H. the Duke of Teck became vice
president, and Lord Ampthill, himself a swimmer of no mean ability, accepted the position of acting president for the year in the room of, Dr. Collingridge, the value of whose service to the cause cannot be over-estimated. Whilst the society receives support such as this it must rapidly develop. Its powers for usefulness are unbounded, its claims to the support of every Englishman incontestable, and its objects worthy of emulation by the young men of every country in the world.
In teaching a class the life-saving drill, the instructor should first of all make himself conversant with the 'squad drill' contained in the official ' Infantry Drill Book.' This is included in the society's publications, but it is not considered necessary to quote it here, as the drill is very well known. The preliminary drill is only intended for those who have not pre viously been drilled either at school or in some branch of His Majesty's service. By forming such members into a separate class, until qualified, the ordinary land drills need not be stopped.
It is important that the instructor should be firm and clear in giving his directions, pronouncing each command loudly enough to be heard by all concerned, and that his criticisms at the end of the drill should be of a general rather than a personal character. The reason for each part of the drill should be explained before proceeding to another.