Image: Daniel Scharinger
When the weather is nice and the temperatures rise, many are drawn to the outdoor pool or the beach. And that, although the bathing fun is far from harmless. According to a study by the Austrian Road Safety Board (KFV), 32 percent of children and 44 percent of adults in Austria cannot swim. Compared to 2019, the percentage of non-swimmers has doubled. Bathing is particularly dangerous for children: drowning is the number 2 cause of death in children.
In order to actively counteract swimming accidents, the Red Cross therefore advises participation in campaigns such as “Our class swims” or the “Penguin Cup”, which are held regularly in elementary schools. As part of these programs, more and more pedagogues are being trained to become lifeguard instructors.
Even a water level of 5 to 10 centimeters can be life-threatening for small children. In order to protect the little ones, the Red Cross recommends the “Moby-Kid” system developed together with the Leonding-based company “Delfin Wellness”: A bracelet for small children ensures that the alarm is triggered in the swimming pool as soon as it is in the water located. In addition, the Red Cross now offers the “JRK Mobile Campus” app to make it easier for students to learn for swimming tests. This can be downloaded free of charge from the Apple or Google Play store.
Source: Nachrichten
