Every long-distance swimmer enter
ing a race expects to get cramps, yet
ho doesn’t drown and he doesn't stop
swimming, either. He keeps going
until his legs are in knots; still, he
doesn't sink. He plugs along until
there isn't another kick in him, and
even now he doesn’t go down. In
stead of that he rolls over on his
back-and-waits for the boat to pick
him up. It may be a minute or it
may be an hour, but until the boat
comes the expert will be -floating
around like a ship.
When you catch a cramp in your
arms or legs don't get excited. You
may yell, but keep yourself under
control. Don’t exert yourself, for it
takes little or no effort to keep afloat.
Crush down the feeling of panic.
Stretch out your arm or leg, aS the
case may be; until you are' straining
to the utmost. Then’ strain a bit
harder,’ and watch the lumped mus
cle go down.
The dangerous cramp is in the
stomach. When that takes you your
breath goes, and you are not able to
shout for help or even to articulate
a sound. I have known of just two
cases among hundreds of thousands
of swimmers. When you get that
kind of cramp you may as well say
your prayers, but you won’t get it
if you don’t eat for two hours before
going into the water. Professional
swimmers go hungry half a day be
fore entering a race, and they never
know such a thing as a stomach
cramp.
If a bather in trouble would use
common sense he never would drown.
