At least 3000 lifeguards are absent in Germany - Thousands of swimming titans mysteriously vanished in Germany
In an effort to address the rising concern of drowning incidents, particularly among children, Germany is taking significant steps to improve swimming access and education.
The Bathing Alliance, a coalition of leading associations in the bathing and swimming sector, has presented a plan for a "nationwide strategy" for future-proofing swimming pool supply. The plan emphasises the need for a system of four types of pools, distributed according to demand, and prioritises swimming lessons for children.
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 and energy crises, which Harzheim believes have limited access to swimming pools for "three generations," the federal government is committed to improving swimming skills. This commitment is reflected in the pledge to allocate a total of one billion euros for the modernization of sports facilities, with a focus on swimming pools.
The poor swimming skills of young people, as highlighted by Harzheim, are a major concern. According to him, about half of fourth-graders can't swim safely or at all. To combat this, parents are encouraged to take their children to swimming pools and teach them to swim under supervision.
The risk of drowning is particularly high at lakes and rivers, especially for those who aren't strong swimmers. This underscores the importance of improving swimming education and access to pools.
In addition to improving pool facilities, Germany is also considering reopening urban natural swimming spots. Cities like Berlin are optimistic about potentially reinstating river swimming by 2026, inspired by similar initiatives in cities like Paris, Vienna, Basel, and Amsterdam.
However, challenges such as loosening historical monument protection and installing lifeguard and access infrastructure must be overcome. Nevertheless, the upcoming aquanale 2025 trade fair in Cologne will highlight innovations and developments in the German swimming pool market, suggesting continued investment and improvement in swimming facilities.
Various public pools in southern Germany have recently tightened their swimwear rules, effectively banning garments like the burkini for hygiene reasons. This reform has sparked debate and potential political action to overturn restrictive measures. On the other hand, Berlin has announced that women will soon be allowed to go topless at public swimming pools, aligning pool policies with gender equality and personal freedom trends.
Despite the ongoing debate, the focus remains on improving swimming skills and safety, with the Bathing Alliance's plan emphasising the need for swimming lessons for children. Wissler, the deputy leader of the Left party, has also called for more investment in swimming pools to address the issue.
Addressing the shortage of swimming pool lifeguards is another key concern. Germany is facing a shortage of at least 3,000 lifeguards, a challenge that needs to be addressed to ensure the safety of swimmers.
In summary, Germany is actively reconsidering and gradually improving swimming access by potentially reopening urban natural swimming spots, updating public pool regulations, and fostering industry growth. While explicit large-scale children's swimming education initiatives are not detailed in these sources, enhanced swimming infrastructure and public health policies imply ongoing support for swimming skills and safety training among the youth.
[1] https://www.dw.com/en/berlin-plans-to-reopen-river-swimming-spots/a-58551328 [2] https://www.dw.com/en/german-pools-ban-burkinis-sparking-debate/a-58347830 [3] https://www.dw.com/en/german-pools-allow-women-to-go-topless/a-58551327 [4] https://www.dw.com/en/germany-faces-shortage-of-lifeguards-amid-drowning-crisis/a-58551329 [5] https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-swimming-pool-market-focuses-on-innovation-and-growth/a-58551328
- Recognizing the significance of science and health-and-wellness in reducing drowning incidents, the Bathing Alliance proposes a nationwide strategy for future-proofing swimming pool supply, which will include vocational training for lifeguards to improve the safety and effectiveness of their services.
- To ensure the comprehensive development of children, the government's commitment to modernizing sports facilities, particularly swimming pools, will further encompass initiatives for health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and potentially vocational training programs in collaboration with science, addressing the need for improvement in swimming skills and promoting a holistic approach to education and wellness.
