![Over 10,000 lifeguards from the DLRG are active during the summer months (Archive snap). [Image]](/en/img/2025/06/01/1716435/jpeg/4-3/1200/75/image-description.webp)
Nearly 10,000 DLRG Lifeguards on Duty in North Rhine-Westphalia This Summer
Roughly 10,000 lifeguards safeguarding beachgoers in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) during the summer months. - Over 9,000 lifeguards maintaining vigil in North Rhine-Westphalia during the summer season.
North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state, will see almost 10,000 lifeguards from the German Life Saving Association (DLRG) patrol its water bodies and swimming pools this summer. This marks the third consecutive year that the number of volunteer lifeguards in the region will surpass 9,500, according to the DLRG.
These lifeguards will be responsible for patrolling around 200 lakes and rivers in North Rhine-Westphalia, as well as supporting pool supervision in nearly 200 swimming pools. "We're the ones who right crash sailboats, provide immediate aid, search for missing individuals, and are there when someone is in distress in the water," remarked Stefan Albrecht, president of the DLRG's North Rhine chapter.
In the last two years alone, volunteer lifeguards in North Rhine-Westphalia have saved more than 230 people from drowning and offered assistance to approximately 9,000 individuals. However, the presence of lifeguards is not omnipresent, particularly in unguarded rivers and lakes where fatal drowning incidents still occur. In 2020, at least 57 people drowned in North Rhine-Westphalia, ten more than the previous year.
The DLRG intends to emphasize these dangers even more in the future. "One shouldn't swim in the Rhine," emphasized Albrecht, echoing recent warnings from the Düsseldorf fire department regarding the perilous nature of swimming in the Rhine. Additionally, the DLRG has warned about dangers such as jumping into cold water, as the sudden temperature change can overburden the heart and circulatory system. Entering unknown or murky waters is particularly hazardous.
The DLRG in North Rhine-Westphalia has more members than ever before, with over 164,000 members (as of the end of 2024), a rise of 13,000 compared to ten years ago. "We've broken another record following the national trend," explained Albrecht. The number of volunteer swimming instructors and lifeguards has also increased significantly compared to ten years ago. Since 2017, the popularity of junior teams for water service has been on the rise.
Last year, over 9,100 volunteers were involved in swimming lessons, guiding around 11,000 children to the 'Seepferdchen' swimming badge, which marks the beginning of learning to swim. Around 21,600 children, youth, and adults successfully passed a bronze, silver, or gold swimming badge in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Beyond the state borders, lifeguards from North Rhine-Westphalia's DLRG associations can also be found at the North and Baltic Seas in the summer. At least 1,000 lifeguards support the water rescue service at these seasides, typically during one to two weeks of their vacation or holiday. Seaside resorts cover travel expenses, provide accommodation, and pay a daily allowance.
In an effort to promote water safety amidst the increasing number of lifeguards, the DLRG in North Rhine-Westphalia emphasizes the importance of adhering to community policies such as avoiding swimming in certain rivers like the Rhine, due to the risks involved. To further enhance public health and wellness, the DLRG also encourages vocational training for its members, providing them with the necessary skills for lifeguarding, fitness-and-exercise, and even offering vocational training in scientific and health-and-wellness fields, such as providing first aid and swimming instruction.
