In 2023, the number of drownings in the Netherlands rose to a worrying 98 fatalities. The over-60s in particular are proving vulnerable, but one-off incidents — such as people falling into the water while trying to rescue their phone — are also being reported more and more often. The Nederlandse Stichting Water- & Zwemveiligheid (NSWZ) wants to take a closer look at this.
Overestimating Your Swimming Skills: An Overlooked Problem
Many people assume their swimming skills are good enough because they took swimming lessons as a child. But how safe are we really in the water? It's a question that isn't asked nearly often enough. As it turns out, plenty of people overestimate their own abilities in the water. A few strokes here and there is something we often call "recreational paddling" — but that isn't genuine water safety. We need to acknowledge that the skills we picked up decades ago may no longer be enough to protect us against the forces of nature, such as currents, cold water and offshore winds.
Swimming Is More Than Just Kicking and Flailing
Any experienced lifeguard can confirm that a great many swimmers rely on mediocre technique. We regularly see poor propulsion and inefficient use of the glide phase, as with the all-too-common "scissor kick". All of this contributes to a false sense of safety in the water. It's important to realise that the stroke you once learned isn't always enough to save yourself.
Awareness and Training: The Keys to Safety
The NSWZ stresses that this isn't so much about taking swimming lessons all over again, but about becoming aware of your current abilities. We encourage the swimming sector to focus on a new audience: swimming skills courses for adults. Even if some people can be a bit stubborn, with the right guidance and atmosphere adults can become aware of where they need to improve — without feeling like they're being treated like children.
A Call to Water Safety
We're urging everyone to reflect on their own behaviour and swimming ability, especially in light of these alarming drowning figures. Ask yourself: do you consider yourself an experienced swimmer — and how good are you really? Don't just swim out to the buoy without a second thought, the way you always used to. Be mindful of the forces of nature, which can catch anyone off guard, young and old alike.
Let's work together towards a safe water environment by taking a hard look at our swimming skills and preparing for whatever nature may throw at us. The upward trend in drownings can only be reversed if we're honest about our limitations and actively work to improve.
Read the full news article here: Drowning figures 2023: 98 people drowned, over-60s and men most vulnerable.