Be careful, danger! DLRG warns of currents in Magdeburg's waters!

Be careful, danger! DLRG warns of currents in Magdeburg's waters!

The warm season attracts many people to the water, but the German Life Saving Society (DLRG) is currently issuing a decisive warning: Swimming in rivers and other flowing waters should be strongly discouraged. Arne Brandenburger from the DLRG Magdeburg local group emphasizes that calm rivers can suddenly turn into dangerous currents, especially in the shipping channels. This is a serious source of danger, as demonstrated by an incident last week when a young woman was caught in the current while in the water on the Elbe in Magdeburg.

Fortunately, the woman managed to save herself to shore after several lifeboats were deployed. After the action, she received extensive medical care from emergency doctors and the ambulance service before she was taken to hospital. “Structures such as weirs and waterfalls are particularly dangerous,” Brandenburger warns. These create dangerous waves of water that can make self-rescue almost impossible. Groynes used to secure the banks also increase the risk by influencing the current and carrying swimmers away.

The role of flow rescuers

In such dangerous situations, the DLRG flow rescuers (SR) are called upon. These specialized emergency services are trained for strong currents, white water and floods. They work as a team and are equipped with special protective equipment. The river rescuers complement the regular emergency services and are used in various scenarios, such as rescue and search on small rivers or securing white water stretches, also as part of disaster control during floods.

These specialist groups are alerted either as separate units, as parts of a rapid response group (SEG) or as part of a water rescue platoon. Their areas of application are diverse: from rescue on and in flowing waters to supporting boat operations in danger zones. The river rescuers are particularly called upon in flood situations when it comes to evacuating flooded areas or securing helpers when securing dikes.

To the point

The DLRG makes it clear how important well-trained emergency services are. This was particularly evident in disasters such as the Elbe floods in 2002 and 2013 as well as other natural disasters. “Floods can turn calm waters into raging currents in a flash,” emphasizes a DLRG spokesman. In this context, the training of river rescuers proves to be indispensable in order to ensure safety on our waters and to be able to react quickly in acute emergencies.

The DLRG sends a clear message directly to the public: Anyone who spends time near bodies of water this summer should exercise caution. The region's rivers and watercourses in particular pose a danger that should not be underestimated. For anyone who still wants to cool off on their own, all that remains is to say: stay safe and follow the advice of the experts!

Further information about the dangers of rivers and the work of the DLRG is available. For anyone who would like to know more, the detailed reports and advice are provided at MDR, DLRG and DLRG Weil am Rhein.