Lifebuoy: "Long distances to the next swimming pool"
Photo: Ole Spata / dpa
Last year at least 378 people across Germany died while swimming or bathing, the majority of them (286) in rivers and lakes.
In the North and Baltic Seas, 21 people drowned, as the German Life Rescue Society (DLRG) announced this Thursday.
Overall, there were nine percent fewer deaths than in the previous year, said a spokesman for the DLRG.
Most people would have followed the recommendations to only bathe in guarded places, but in the particularly hot August, many people went to unguarded bathing places.
In August alone, 117 people drowned - according to the DLRG, more than in about ten years.
Nationwide, 18 preschool children and five primary school children died in the water.
"Today children no longer have the opportunity to learn to swim everywhere and everywhere," said DLRG President Achim Haag.
Many primary schools have long distances to the nearest swimming pool.
One could hardly reconcile this with a lesson planning.
In addition, many swimming pools were completely closed due to the pandemic, and courses and lessons were canceled.
"The proportion of non-swimmers in Germany will be increased significantly," said spokesman Wiese.
In addition, bathrooms would also be closed for cost reasons.
According to estimates by the lifeguards, one million children nationwide could not be trained to be safe swimmers in the past year.
A safe swimmer is someone who has the bronze swimming badge.
Icon: The mirror
mjm / dpa