In 2024, DLRG experienced a slight decrease in mortality rates compared to the previous year.
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In an announcement made by Ute Vogt, the president of the German Lifesaving Association (DLRG), in Travemünde, it has been revealed that there has been a significant decrease in bathing accident fatalities in Germany's rivers during the first seven months of 2025.
According to the data, 85 people died in rivers in Germany in the same period last year, compared to 90 in 2025, marking a decrease of 16 deaths. However, it is worth noting that this decrease is not uniform across the country.
Rivers have been identified as the most dangerous bodies of water in Germany for bathers in the first seven months of 2025, with a total of 90 deaths. Lakes come in second, with 87 deaths, a slight increase from the 77 deaths reported in the same period in 2024.
The sea, particularly the Baltic Sea, has seen a decrease in bathing fatalities, with all 10 deaths in 2025 occurring in the Baltic Sea, compared to 13 deaths in 2024.
Regional variations are evident in the data. For instance, Bavaria, which had the most drowning deaths in Germany up to July 2025, reported 48 deaths compared with 35 in the same period in 2024. This suggests an increase in drowning fatalities in Bavaria, not a decrease as seen in the national data.
On the other hand, there has been a decrease in bathing fatalities in swimming pools, with only nine deaths reported in the first seven months of 2025, compared to an unspecified number in 2024.
Among children up to the age of ten, there was one more death than in the previous year, with a total of 8 deaths in the first seven months of 2025.
The DLRG, with around 5,500 volunteers on duty at approximately 100 supervised bathing spots on the North and Baltic Seas during the summer season, emphasises the importance of supervision in ensuring safety. Vogt stated that bathing and swimming are safer where they are supervised by lifeguards.
While the exact reason for the decrease in bathing accident fatalities in Germany's rivers is not clear, the general trend in the EU is towards fewer drowning deaths, potentially linked to better bathing water quality and safety standards. However, some German regions like Bavaria report increases in deaths, indicating a need for region-specific solutions.
The reported decrease in bathing fatalities, if confirmed in official German 2025 statistics, could be attributed to better water safety regulations, improved rescue infrastructure, public education, or lower exposure. However, these remain speculative without explicit evidence.
In the realm of health-and-wellness, the DLRG president's report indicates a possible correlation between improved water safety regulations and a decrease in bathing accident fatalities in Germany's rivers. For those seeking a balanced lifestyle, it's important to appreciate the role of fitness-and-exercise in overall health, and also understand the significance of food safety, particularly when engaging in water activities.
