Germany plans rescue: Swimming pools should make children safe!

Germany plans rescue: Swimming pools should make children safe!

In Germany there is a decisive trend that concerns us all: the children's swimming ability is declining. This was particularly clearly reported in the recent presentation of a Germany-wide plan for the renovation and modernization of swimming pools in Hanover, such as NDR. According to the DLRG, there is a growing number of children in the current circumstances that cannot swim, which also has an increased risk of bathing accidents.

What is behind this worrying trend? Since 2017, the proportion of primary school children who cannot swim have doubled - from 10% to 20% in 2022. Before pandemic, around 40% of ten -year -olds were able to swim safely in Germany, which corresponds to the German swimming badge in bronze, how [jmwiarda.de] (https://www.jmwiarda.de/blog/2025/06/immer-weniger- Grundschueler-koenne-wimmen) mentioned. This not only raises questions about the safety of the children, but also about the future of school swimming lessons, which is already at risk in many cases.

outdated infrastructure and decline in the swimming badges

A central point of the plan of the bathing alliance is the improvement of the infrastructure. Many swimming pools in Germany are dilapidated or have already been closed, which affects learning to swim. Another alarming fact is the renovation backlog for public swimming pools: Without investments, around 800 swimming pools will face the closure in the next three years, so jmwiarda.de.

The DLRG notes that 58% of children in Germany are not a safe swimmer at the end of primary school. This is in contrast to the expectations of the Conference of Ministers of Culture, which recommends for at least 30 hours of swimming lessons to elementary school. The need for qualified teachers and a binding framework for swimming lessons are overdue. Therefore, the DLRG calls for a nationwide bathroom requirement plan to improve the Situation.

a call for action

The plan for renovation not only provides for the preservation of existing facilities, but also the closure of gaps and the targeted new construction of swimming pools. Such engagement is necessary to reliably shape school swimming lessons. The high non-swimmer quota in cities such as Bremen, where there are numerous bathing accidents, shows that there is a need for action here, especially on hot summer days. This development is not only a local, but also a problem that affects us all.

swimming not only promotes movement and concentration, but is also crucial for the social participation of the children. The DLRG has carried out surveys for parents that show that many still have a wrong impression of their children's swimming skills. 57% are classified as safe swimmers, although this does not correspond to reality, as the DLRG emphasizes. The proof of the seahorse is not synonymous with learning safe swimming skills.

It is now up to us to secure the swimming ability of our children through consciousness formation and targeted politics. A call to all decision -makers: Now is the time to act!

sources:

• ndr
• jmwiarda.de
• dlrg