After abandoning ship, you may have to swim fast,slow, on the water, or under the water. You may have toput on or take off clothes; carry or search for objects;float for hours; or in shark-infested waters, lie still andkeep your arms and legs from dangling. There is a lotyou might have to do. You can get ready by practicingall the strokes you know.Almost all the Navy’s shore installations haveswimming facilities for your use. Here, you can practiceswimming. You should practice various strokes andextend your swimming range. Then, you will feel moreconfident that you can stay afloat and swim to a distantlifeboat or floating object.SWIMMING THROUGH FLAMES.—Flame-covered water is a terrifying sight. However, youdon’t need to be afraid of jumping into flames. If youfollow the procedures listed here, you will clear theburning area safely (fig. 15-2).1. Don’t wear an inherently buoyant life preserver(if you have one on, get rid of it).2. If you’re wearing a CO2preserver, keep it on butdon’t inflate it.3. Discard your shoes because they will hinderyour underwater swimming.4. Take a deep breath when you jump from the shipand cover your nose and mouth with one handand your eyes with the other.15-3THIRD CLASS SWIMMER1. Enter the water feet first from a height of 5 feet2. Remain afloat for 5 minutes3. Swim 50 yardsSECOND CLASS SWIMMER1. Jump from a height of 10 feet2. Remain afloat for 10 minutes3. Swim 100 yards, using three survival strokes forat least 25 yards each:Breast strokeSide strokeElementary back strokeFIRST CLASS SWIMMER1. Swim 220 yards2. Enter the water feet first and immediately swim25 yards underwater (you may surface for airtwice at 25-foot intervals)3. Remove your trousers or slacks in the water andinflate them4. Tow another person 25 yards, using thefollowing methods:Cross-chest carryExtended reach (recommended forstruggling victims)Grabbing the victims hair from behind anduse side stroke (recommended for towingunconscious victims)Figure 15-2.—Swimming through flames.Student Notes:
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