Swimming badge campaign in the seaside resort of Starnberg

Created: 04/27/2022, 11:31 am

Children from the district of Starnberg can put their swimming skills to the test in a swimming drawing campaign in the Starnberg seaside resort.

© Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa/symbol image

Starnberg - After a two-year break due to the pandemic, the popular gwt Starnberg action day will take place again on May 7th, where children can take the test for a swimming badge free of charge.

Whether seahorse, youth swimming badge bronze, silver or gold - together with the water rescue service, the gwt has reserved extra lanes in the seaside resort for the whole day.

If you can prove your swimming skills, you can start the bathing season with one of the coveted badges on your swimming trunks or bikini.

According to a forsa survey by the German Life Saving Society DLRG, almost 60 percent of ten-year-olds are not safe swimmers - and the trend is rising.

In the past two years, the situation has dramatically worsened due to the corona pandemic - swimming pools had closed, swimming courses were cancelled.

Thanks to the support of the Kreissparkasse München - Starnberg - Ebersberg, participation is free of charge, only the entrance to the seaside resort has to be paid for.

A danger for non-swimmers in the lakes region

The local water rescue service is also there and monitors the tests.

"We live in a region with many wonderful lakes, which can also mean a great danger for non-swimmers," says project manager Isabell Bauch, explaining the reason for gwt Starnberg's commitment.

"The annual swimming badge action day is intended to raise awareness of risks in and around the water and to show how important it is to be able to swim well and safely." A radio station is also a partner of the campaign.

In the week before, TopFM takes up the subject of swimming in its programs and also broadcasts an interview with the Starnberg water rescue service.

In order to be considered a confident swimmer, you have to cover 200 meters in a maximum of 15 minutes and retrieve an object from a depth of two meters.

Water rescue day at Pilsensee, Wörthsee, Ammersee and Starnberger See

Anyone who can then jump from the one-meter board and knows the bathing rules has already passed the bronze medal for junior swimmers.

Important: the knowledge and skills must have been learned and practiced beforehand, there is no training for this on the day itself.

There is a photographer on site who will photograph each child free of charge with a certificate and badge and then send the picture by e-mail.

The day of action is part of the gwt series of events With safety more fun at the lake, which also includes the annual boat trip on Lake Starnberg and Lake Ammer with the district's preschool children.

Due to the pandemic, this popular ride has also had to be paused for two years and will probably not be able to take place again until 2023.

In the summer of 2022, there will be a Starnberg-Ammersee water rescue day during the holiday season: children from the age of eight can spend a whole day at the lake with the water rescue service on the Pilsensee, Wörthsee, Ammersee and Starnberger See.

There they not only learn everything about first aid measures and the bathing rules, but also get to know the devices and equipment of the lifeguard.

If you don't have time on May 7th, you have another chance to get a swimming badge on the day.

Swimming times for seahorses and various swimming signs

Seahorse 9.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., swimming badge bronze 10.30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Swimming badge silver and gold 12.30 p.m. to 2 p.m., seahorse 2 to 3 p.m., swimming badge bronze, 3 p.m.