A campaign for safe open water swimming

When the weather is nice, many seek cooling in the sea or a lake. Swimming in open water is lovely and fun to do. But it is not always without risk. Currents, waves, gullies, or sudden temperature changes can turn a refreshing dive into a life-threatening situation. Many swimmers are not aware. Every year in the Netherlands, about 100 people drown in open water. More often, rescue organisations such as KNRM and Reddingsbrigade rescue swimmers who get into trouble.

Together in action
Every victim of drowning is one too many. The number of drownings must be further reduced. That is why the Nationale Raad Zwemveiligheid, Reddingsbrigade Nederland, KNRM, Rijkswaterstaat, site managers, and municipalities are working together from the Nationaal Plan Zwemveiligheid. One of the ways they do this is with the ‘Getting in and out of the water safely’ campaign. ‘Getting in and out of the water safely’ makes people aware of the risks of swimming in open water. And shows what to do to increase your safety in the water. So that fewer people get into trouble in open water and that they can get in and out of the water safely.

Who is looking over you
In the coming years, several short-term campaigns on swimming safety will be launched under the name ‘Getting in and out of the water safely’, the first of which is ‘Who is looking over you?’