Ready for a cool down? Watch out for inland water: ‘It’s not a swimming pool’

It is not only the large waves, ripples and currents at sea that cause dangerous situations. Things also sometimes go wrong on inland waterways. That is why the rescue brigade tries to monitor the situation there as much as possible, but that is not always possible: “We would prefer to monitor all inland waterways, but that is not feasible.”

So, according to Marc van der Jagt of the rescue brigade, we must also take our own responsibility and not just jump into the water everywhere. “Unfortunately, people at the inland waterways often think it’s a big pool.”

More dangerous than sea

Bernard Korte of the Netherlands Institute for Safety Swimming Locations (NIVZ) even dares to claim that there are more drownings related to swimming and water recreation inland than at sea. He sees an increasing migration to inland waterways, especially in the city.

“Those city beaches are very nice, but there is often no supervision or information about the area.” In the case of inland waters, according to Korte, it is more a matter of the swimmer’s own responsibility.

Not only

The rescue brigade explains that there is an important distinction between inland waters where you are allowed to swim and where you are not. But you should also remain alert at an official swimming spot. “It can suddenly be a lot colder than expected, which can cause cramps,” explains Van der Jagt. That’s why he always advises going into the water together, ‘or ask someone to watch you’.

But why can’t we jump into the nearby ditch, river or canal? Often these are unofficial swimming spots. “Where there are sailing routes, you should not swim anyway. The ship leaves a trail of currents.” According to Van der Jagt you already suffer from this close to the shore. “A canal also runs directly down. By immediately jumping into that cold water, you can be overcome by cramps again.”

In addition, the bottom is often difficult to see because of the turbid water. Are you jumping in? “Then there could be anything at the bottom. Or it’s much deeper than you think.”

And not only the deep water is dangerous. “Only little water is needed for a dangerous situation.” This is especially true for children, especially if they are not yet ‘water-free’. “Without swimming diplomas, you should not go deeper than the child’s knee height.”

Freshen up

Not only children, but also the elderly should pay attention. Bernard de Korte of the NIVZ also knows that: “People quickly dive into the water without preparation. With skiing we always take a few lessons, we see where the difficult slopes are and we wear a helmet. But if after a long time we swimming again, we hardly prepare.”