Ten thousand lifeguards vigilantly watch over NRW's summer coastlines. - Over 9,000 lifeguards on duty throughout North Rhine-Westphalia during the summer season.
Lifesavers Aim to Beat Last Year's Record: Over 9,500 DLRG Lifeguards Patrolling North Rhine-Westphalia This Summer
Almost 10,000 lifeguards, volunteers from the German Life Saving Association (DLRG), will be on duty this summer in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) to ensure the safety of swimmers and water sports enthusiasts. For the third consecutive year, the number of lifeguards in the most populous federal state is set to exceed 9,500, as announced by the DLRG.
These lifesavers will be stationed at around 200 lakes and rivers and assist in pool supervision at nearly 200 swimming pools across NRW. Stefan Albrecht, president of DLRG North Rhine, explained, "We turn overturned sailboats, administer first aid, search for missing persons, and respond when someone is distressed in the water."
In the past two years alone, volunteer lifeguards in NRW have saved over 230 people from drowning and provided assistance to approximately 9,000 individuals. However, lifeguards cannot be everywhere, especially in unguarded rivers and lakes where fatal drowning incidents often occur. Last year, at least 57 people drowned in NRW, ten more than the year before.
In an effort to raise water safety awareness more effectively in the future, the DLRG emphasized the importance of responsible swimming choices. The Düsseldorf fire department recently warned against swimming in the Rhine, while the DLRG noted various dangers, including jumping into cold water, which can overwhelm the heart and circulation system, and diving into unknown or murky waters.
The DLRG in NRW boasts a membership of over 164,000—the highest number ever recorded—with 13,000 more members than ten years ago. Following the national trend, the number of volunteer swimming instructors and lifeguards has significantly increased compared to ten years ago. Since 2017, the popularity of junior teams for water service has been on the rise.
In 2024, over 9,100 volunteers were involved in swimming instruction, similar to figures from 2023 and before the COVID-19 pandemic. They guided nearly 11,000 children to obtain the Seepferdchen (seahorse) badge, marking the beginning of learning to swim. About 21,600 children, young people, and adults successfully passed a bronze, silver, or gold swimming badge in NRW.
Beyond NRW, lifeguards from the two DLRG associations in the state support the water rescue service at the North and Baltic Seas during the summer. At least 1,000 lifeguards spend one to two weeks of their vacation or holidays at one of the approximately 100 guarded beach sections along the North and Baltic Seas, ensuring the safety of vacationers. The seaside resorts cover travel costs, provide accommodation, and pay a daily allowance and food expenses.
The DLRG emphasizes the importance of responsible lifestyle choices to increase water safety awareness, including cautious outdoor-living near bodies of water. To support this goal, the DLRG has employed an increasing number of vocational training programs for volunteer swimming instructors and lifeguards, as evidenced by the membership surge, particularly among junior teams for water service.
