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Show HtLL TOP TIMES fridoy. July 29, 1983 editorials 7 W doirokoinig arfff D By Connie Hanney Social Actions Now that summer has decided to make an appearance, it would be a great time to take a look at how the use of alcohol can influence your life. Drinking is forbidden in many of the parks and the baseball fields. If you choose to drink at a baseball park be sure to take along an extra $100, because that is what the fine is. Also at this time of year there are many people on the highways traveling. Some of these people will be drinking while driving. I hope you will be one who chooses not to drink and drive. Think for a few minutes and imagine you and your family are on a vacation having a good time, and suddenly you are hit head on by a drinking driver. I say drinking because these are the people who cause most of our accidents, not just alcoholics. You hear a loud crash and the next thing you remember is coming to and finding out that part of your family was killed in this accident. Now the hours and even years of heartache and despair begin. Scary, isn't it? Can you also imagine how the drink-- , ing driver is going to feel when he comes to the realization of what has really happened and what is going to happen to him? If you choose to drink and drive you could be the driver of that car, or if you don't drink and drive you could be the victim. It will be sad whichever one you are. If you choose to drink, please do it responsibly and stay off the highways. Also, if you see someone who you may suspect is drinking, please do your part as a citizen and call the local authorities and have them removed from the highway before that family you imagined becomes your own. It's OK to go to games, picnics, and trips and not drink or use drugs. You don't have to be high to have fun. Let's all make this a happy summer for everyone. If you use responsible drinking decisions you won't be placed in a position that is hazardous to your health or the health of others. Take care of yourself. the Red Cross advises you to take a deep breath, float face down and use both hands to massage the cramped part. Usually the pressure will cause, the pain to cease. Sometimes vigorous kneading is required to keep the you do get caught in a current, don't fight it. Swim parallel to the shore or diagonally across it as you would in a river current, heading shoreward only after you are out of the current. If you are in a boat that capsizes, don't panic! Most boats today are equipped with enough flotation to support 10 people if the craft is overturned. Even when swamped, a boat will support its occupants. You can sit inside, and although partially sub- merged, hand paddle to shore. It may be necessary to lighten the load by discarding such items as fishing gear, anchor and even the engine, but you are much safer staying with the boat. Swimming lessons are good wafer hazard insurance By Jim Norr Ogden ALC the water will help. Swimming -- Safety Office Learning to swim and teaching your entire family to swim is the greatest water hazard insurance you can buy. You don't have to be an Olympic champion in order to save yourself in a water emergency. A simple stroke such as a dog paddle can enable a floundering swimmer to reach safety. The American Red Cross calculations reveal that half of all annual drown-iner- s hanDen within some 3.000 20 feet of safety! Red Cross authorities estimate 40 percent of our population cannot swim that far and would probably drown attempting it. How soon should you attempt to teach your child to swim? This depends on your child's maturity and motivation. Some children take to the water like a fish, while others remain water-sh"The best age for a child to learn to swim," says Alfred Cant-wel- l, National Director of Safety for the Red Cross, "is the age at which he wants to learn. No amount of forcing or begging will make a recalcitrant child like the water, although gentle persuasion and exposing him to fun in y. Doff? StfDln)g) cramp from recurring. The cramp, alone can't kill you, but the fear that usually accompanies it can. Water temperature: Cold water can cause a shock to the system. Blood vessels constrict, your body loses heat and you can develop an oxygen deficiency that causes unconsciousness and ultimately drowning. Should you notice a general feeling of discomfort such as chilling, numbness, purplish hue of the lips or fingernails, weakness, dizziness or nausea, leave the water. y Strong current: Don't buck it. Trying to swim toward shore against its pull is useless for most swimmers. Instead, try to avoid it by swimming parallel to shore. The narrow neck, the part in which most persons are caught, is usually only 50 to 100 feet across. Farther out the head may measure as much as 500 feet wide, but the current in that portion is not nearly as strong and has a lateral flow that aids your parallel course with the shore. Undertow: There are several types of dangerous marine current which should be avoided if possible. If teachers know that in the long run, a child will learn most quickly when he is ready and not until." - Since youngsters feel most secure with their parents, the best teacher is the parent. Don't be discouraged at your own inability in the water. As a teacher, your main job is helping your child become more confident and at ease in the water. Teaching your child the basics makes the professional's job simpler and the child learns more ,. rapidly. confidence a child's in the Building water can begin in the bathtub or in a small wading pool, but even this water fun should be supervised. Many small children drown annually in backyard wading pools and bathtubs. An illustrated booklet, "Teaching Johnny to Swim,"' is available from the American Red Cross and offers excellent tips for teaching your child once his confidence has been firmly established. You must use the greatest of patience while teaching your child to swim. Swimming tips: Cramps: If you feel a cramp on the calf of the leg or sole of the foot, -- " mmr The few sifting on top are winners "I failed my way to success. Every time I said, made a mistake, I learned something from it." By CMSgt. Bobbi Roland wsvfse problem! Langley AFB, Va. Have you ever wondered why only a few officers and enlisted members make it to the top? Luck? Knowing someone? Being in the right place at the right time? Those things may not hurt, but I think those at the top of their profession are winners. They weren't born winners, either. They carefully cultivated the traits which distinguish them. They learned to be . , ; winners. How can you learn to be one too? What traits should you cultivate? Here are some suggestions: Have long-tergoals. Decide on an ultimate short-tergoal, then identify steps toward it. You become want an to for instance. To acofficer, may must that finish college. first goal, you complish Make sure your goals are ones you really want If you aren't excited about your goals, you won't function at the peak of your ability. You may think you want to be an oficer or a chief, for instance, but do you really? You'll need to make some sacrifices to get there. Move beyond whatever you've already accomplished. You can always find ways to make your job more challenging. Maintain your by learning from your mistakes. Successful people exhibit high Thomas Edison once degrees of .. I '& SSV idea! :. ' 5 ,, m m solution! we're wide open for ideas.... August is suggestion month self-confiden- self-confidenc- e. : . : Take responsibility. High performers are not afraid to take control of their section, their people problems and their careers. There are always opportunities around for you to take increased responsibility, whatever your rank. Develop your communicative skills. Almost every successful person has learned to be a good communicator. Mentally rehearse how you will act in critical situations. Go over things that are likely to happen to you, and see yourself doing well. It will give you a sense of confidence. " Take risks after figuring out the worst consequences. Think of the worst thing that could happen as a result of a risk you are considering taking. If you could live with that outcome, it's easier to move ahead confidently. Focus on solving problems, not placing blame. Winners seek solutions, not scapegoats. They attack problems, not people. Push your ideas through to completion. Many people come up with creative ideas, but few do anything about them. High performers come up with ideas, and act on them; One last reminder; "Patience is proclaimed as a virtue by those who would rather nothing change." . - (TACNS) |