RELEASE DRILL (ON LAND) The object of this drill is to teach how to release oneself from the clutch of -a drowning person.
The squad will be ' numbered' and formed two deep.' Inwards—Turn—For Release Drill—First Method-Ready. On the command 'ready,' the rear-rank man will raise his hands to the level of his shoulders. At the same time, the front-rank man will grasp him by the wrist, thumbs inwards, fingers out iygrtis (fig. 8).
One.—On the word one,' the rear-rank man will take a short pace to the rear with his left foot, and raise his elbows until the arms are extended, the front-rank man still keeping a firm hold.
tho word two,' the rear-rank man will bring his hands down until they are in line with his hips, work his wrists against the thumbs of the front-rank man (fig. 9), and with a smart jerk, which will cause the front-rank man to loosen his hold, the rear and front-rank men will bring their arms in line with the shoulders at right angles to the side of the body.
Three.—On the word three,' both will drop hands to the side, and the rear rank will close up one short pace to the front.
Ready.—On the command 'ready,' the front-rank man will raise his arms and clasp the rear-rank man round the neck, keeping his arms at full stretch, and fingers interlaced.
One.—On the word one,' the rear-rank man will place his right foot outside the left foot of the front-rank man, and place his left hand in the small of the back.
Two.—On the word two,' the rear-rank man will bend slightly over, and at the same time raise his right arm in line with the shoulder of the front-rank man, and passing his right hand over, will catch the nose of the front-rank man between the second and third fingers, and rest the palm on his chin (fig. to).
Three.—On the word 'three,' the rear-rank man will bend slightly over towards the front-rank man, and at the same time by a sudden push against the chin with the right hand, and the abdomen with the right knee, cause the front-rank man to release his grip, when both will drop hands to the side and stand at 'atten tion.' Front. Change—Rank—Two Deep.—These commands are the same as Nos. 3o and 33, and the drill is repeated.
The object of teaching the foregoing drills on land is to inculcate into the minds of the pupils the correct methods of approaching and gripping a drowning person, as it is far easier to do this on land than in the water. The release drill can only be carried through on land, as in the water the movements have to be made immediately and effectually in order to free oneself from the clutch, and the commands cannot be given. It is, however, important that it should be practised in the water, and the efficient performance of it made one of the tests in an examination.
Any swimmer who has gone through the land rescue drill can at once perform the same drill in the water, but to attain a high state of proficiency back swimming must be made a subject of special study. The style best suited for rescue work has already been detailed in the chapter on the Art of Swim ming. As in the land exercises, rescue practice in the water is carried out by means of a drill, and when a number of squads take part in it the sight is both pretty and instructive. The drill is as follows: