[CONVALESCENT SWIMMING] Part 3
Description
The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “The Detroit Chapter of the American Red Cross cooperating with the Veterans Administration and the Ford Motor Company is now conduction classes in remedial and convalescent swimming for patients of the Veterans’ Hospital in Dearborn.” “Representative of the cooperating agencies meet to approve the program.” Men seated around desk. “Left to right, John Sullivan, Manager, Detroit Chapter American Red Cross; Emmet F. Connely, Chapter Chairman; Dr. Thomas P. Craine, Manager, Veterans Administration Hospital, Dearborn, Michigan; Charles A. Pink, Supervisor of Athletics, Ford Motor Company.” Men seated around desk. “Each patient is examined by his doctor before being assigned to swimming classes.” Doctor checks patient’s legs in office - patients on crutches and in wheel chairs escorted out of hospital. “The Red Cross Motor Corps transports patients to the swimming pool.” Patients enter station wagons - vehicles depart. “The group arrives at the Ford recreation pool.” Red Cross station wagons arrive at Ford pool building - patients move toward building. “After a shower, patients enter the pool.” Patients and instructors leave shower. “Patients are assigned to volunteer instructors who are informed as to the type of exercise desired.” Instructors. “Wheelchair patients are lowered on the crane-chair.” Patient lifted by assistant from wheelchair into crane-chair, lowered into pool, instructor helps patient out of crane-chair - patient and instructor in pool. “Some are taught to make diving entries.” Men dive into pool from diving board. “Art Weberlein, a tri-pelagic, has learned to dive into deep water and swim unassisted.” Weberlein in wheelchair with women standing - Weberlein, woman, and instructor at pool’s edge - Weberlein stands, dives into pool, and swims around pool under watchful eye of instructor. “All activities are based on swimming skills.” Patients and instructors swim in pool. “After the proper amount of exercise, patients leave the pool. Wheelchair cases are lifted on the crane-chair.” Patient is lifted out of pool with crane-chair. “A part of every period is given to games. Here patients are lined up for a race across the pool.” Swimming race. “After a happy hour, the patients leave.” Wheelchair patient leaving building and pushed toward vehicles. “Refreshed, they are driven back to the hospital by the Motor Corps.” Station wagons move out. [1948]
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