“Campaign needed to warn of dangers from the North Sea”
A campaign should teach us what we should and should not do in our North Sea.
An Beun, West Flanders Coastal Rescue Service (IKWV): “It is certainly necessary that our entire population is informed about what is and what is not possible at sea. It is a fact that many people are not familiar with our North Sea. But not only with our North Sea, also with other open bathing waters for example I think it could be useful in the future to switch to a national action plan in which we inform children from an early age about the do’s and don’ts on the water. “
Not just a problem with young people in Brussels
In mid-July, a Brussels youth also drowns in Ostend after he went swimming while there were no lifeguards left. Mayor Bart Tommelein then called on Walloon and Brussels politicians to better distribute the guidelines there. In the meantime, he sent a letter to the Prime Minister and the Walloon, Flemish and Brussels Prime Ministers to join forces and to start an awareness campaign. Although it is not only a problem for young people in Brussels. “I think we should not minimize it, it really is a wide problem. It is now a coincidence that these are two young people from Brussels, but also the Flemish and Walloons, so to speak, will certainly need additional information.”
In any case, it will be on the agenda of the West Flemish coastal rescue service. Summer will continue for a while in the coming days, so this call again. “Always go swimming in a supervised zone when there are lifeguards, from half past ten in the morning to half past six in the evening. You can swim safely in one of those supervised zones. Do not go into the water in an unguarded zone. or outside the opening hours of the rescue service.”