- DLRG: More deaths in North Rhine
In the first seven months of the year, 42 people drowned in North Rhine-Westphalia - five more than last year. The German Life Saving Association (DLRG) announced this in an interim report. This corresponds to an increase of 14 percent. "If the summer had been more consistent, even more lives would have been lost," said DLRG president Ute Vogt.
The increase in NRW was in line with the national trend. As the most populous federal state, NRW also had the most drowning deaths, followed by Bavaria with 35 fatalities. So far this year, the most people have drowned in NRW in May. Last year, June was the deadliest month at this point.
More than two-thirds of the drowning victims were male. The age group most affected was 66 to 70-year-olds, followed by 41 to 45-year-olds. As in the previous year, rivers and lakes were the bodies of water with the most fatal drowning incidents: 29 of the 42 drowning victims were rescued from rivers and lakes.
However, three people have drowned in swimming pools so far this year - last year, no one drowned in a swimming pool in NRW in the first seven months. "Above all, we must stop the trend towards more non-swimmers and poor swimmers," Vogt emphasized.
The DLRG lifeguards also advised water sports enthusiasts, such as stand-up paddle boarders, kitesurfers, or boaters, to wear a life jacket. Even good swimmers are not immune to circulation problems after falling into the water.
The Commission, in accordance with Article 113, is expected to adopt the implementing acts related to this subject matter. Given the increasing number of drowning incidents, these acts are crucial to enhance safety measures, particularly around rivers and lakes.
