River rescuers in Germany save a swimmer from the Rhine waterway
In the heart of Germany, the Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft (DLRG) Wiesbaden-Schierstein chapter sprang into action on Sunday, rescuing a weakened swimmer from the Rhine near Walluf.
The incident, which occurred amidst the bustling shipping traffic, saw the DLRG's quick response saving the day. The affected individual was under the influence of drugs and had cramps, making the situation critical. The rescue boat's crew managed to rescue the person just in time before a cargo ship passed by. Initial medical care was provided on the boat, and the rescued person was later handed over to an alerted ambulance and the police on land.
The press release does not provide new information about the specific rescue incident, but it does highlight the importance of water safety. The DLRG, the world's largest water rescue organization, is dedicated to safety on and around water. Their core roles include water safety education, rescue operations, support during emergencies, and promoting safe boating and water activities.
In Wiesbaden-Schierstein, the DLRG chapter trains volunteers and youth in water rescue skills, including swimming and current rescue techniques. They conduct regular rescue readiness training and emergency response exercises, monitor local water bodies to ensure public safety, and provide rapid response capabilities for drowning prevention and water-related emergencies in the area.
The DLRG's work is not limited to their local jurisdiction. They cooperate with regional rescue services to reduce drowning incidents and support water rescue operations. For instance, an Instagram post referenced experience of a DLRG Rhein-Main group in flow/current rescue training, indicating regional teams actively prepare for water rescue scenarios typical of river environments.
The DLRG Wiesbaden-Schierstein chapter operates from a duty station that is occupied by volunteer deployment forces. The station's occupation schedule includes specific hours on weekends and public holidays. Rescue boats can be deployed at any time in case of emergencies.
In light of the incident, the fire department and DLRG are urging everyone to be aware of the dangers of swimming in the Rhine due to strong currents and shipping traffic. It is recommended to use designated swimming areas, supervised lakes, or public baths for safety reasons.
The press release refers to a previous press release by the PD Rheingau-Taunus on the same topic. The publisher of this press release is the fire department of the state capital Wiesbaden. The deployment data was forwarded to the responsible control center in the Rheingau-Taunus district.
[1] Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft. (n.d.). About the DLRG. Retrieved from https://www.dlrg.de/dlrg/ueber-uns/ueber-die-dlrg/ [5] DLRG Rhein-Main. (2021, March 21). Flow training. Retrieved from https://www.instagram.com/p/CPQmwVKJQvE/
